Author: Zuzana Šrámková
It’s been almost a year since we wrote about the experiences of one of our teachers, Janička Štěrbová, who regularly visits children in orphanages as part of C4C´s Springboard to Life program.
Jana owns a farm near Zvíkovské podhradí, near Pisek – a fair distance from Prague. And …. Jana has horses!
They say that the world is most beautiful from horseback and it is true that most of the children from “our” orphanages love horses. Since Jana and her mares are too far away for most of them the idea was born to visit her and take as many children from the orphanage along as we could carry😊
Janička accepted our proposal with enthusiasm; and so on a beautiful, sunny autumn Saturday, me and Petra Erguvanli, Springboard to Life project manager, went with four children from the Ledce children’s home to Jana´s farm. Our “horsewoman” welcomed us with a big smile on her face and without further delay brought two horses from the paddock to be cleaned and mounted. Before the children had time to catch their breath, they had combs, brushes, hoof hooks and finally blankets and saddles in their hands.
It was nerve-wracking at times, and Jana was worried that the children, whom she had met for the first time, would get hurt by the horses. But everyone relaxed in the pasture, and soon the meadow was filled with the enthusiastic squeals and laughter of the children, who gradually learned to stay in the saddle – even without stirrups. First at a walk and then at a light trot and canter. Excitement set in when finally they started to gallop. Only they preferred to do that with their feet in the stirrups 😊
After an hour in the saddle it was time to release the horses, unsaddle them and let them run with their companions around the pasture again. Without looking back, the children started to build a fire, roasting sausages, apples and cheese, which they ate with cucumbers, tomatoes and biscuits.
And then, there was a story time. Time for the story of each of the horses that ran happily behind our backs. They’re as touching as the stories of the children who came with us, because they come to Jana in various ways from people who no longer wanted them. Without her acceptance, they would have ended up in the slaughterhouse, even though some of them have had a racing career in the past.
It was touching to see the interest in the children’s eyes as they listened to Jana’s stories. The fates of abandoned humans and animals are so similar! And we all share a longing for acceptance, love and the warmth of home.
Thank you, Jana, for a wonderful day in your pasture. And thank you also to the aunts from the children’s home in Ledce for the trust they put in all the children and us as well. We certainly didn’t go for a swing in the horse saddle for the last time!
