Horse riding as a physical therapy for the differently-abled / 馬術治療 助身障友矯正步態.統合感覺　　　　　　　　　　

Horse riding is not only a sport, but also a form of physical therapy. In fact, in Taiwan, horse riding has been used in physical therapy for about 15 years. By interacting with horses, the differently-abled can correct their gait, improve posture, learn to balance better and work on their coordination. Yeh Chin-Chung, aged thirty-five, has mild intellectual impairment, and looks confident on horseback. He has competed as part of the Chinese Taipei national team in the Special Olympics in Ireland, and came in fourth place. ==YEH CHIN-CHUNG, Equestrian, Special Olympics Team Chinese Taipei== (Do you like horse riding?) Yes, I do. (What place did you come in the Ireland Contest? The fourth, right? Are you happy?) Happy. ==WANG LI-KUO, Yeh Chin-Chung's Equestrian Coach== We never knew Chin-Chung could be a professional since he had hidden himself among us working as a stable hand cleaning the stables and feeding the horse. It's hard work that not all people are willing to do. Horse riding has been developed as a physical therapy in Taiwan for over fifteen years. No matter what their age, differently-abled people can correct their gait, improve their posture, balance and coordination through interaction with horses. ==Chang Chao-Yuan, coach, Qi-Zhi Vocational Training Center== This form of physical therapy works best on those with cerebral palsy. Also, it helps people with emotional impairment, autism, or intellectual impairment. The Qi-Zhi Vocational Training Center has undertaken equestrian therapy in Taiwan for 15 years, and for the past 12 years, it has held contests at the Hope Bowl. They would like to show people that this particular type of sports therapy can help differently-abled people and give them the opportunity to participate in sports competition. TRANSLATED BY：EMA FU 英姿挺拔，騎在馬背上展現無比自信，今年35歲，患有中度智能障礙的葉金忠，曾經擔任國手代表台灣到愛爾蘭參加特殊奧運會比賽，還獲得第四名的好成績。 ==特奧馬術國手 葉金忠== (喜不喜歡騎馬) 喜歡 喜歡騎馬 (你去愛爾蘭比賽第幾名) 第四 (第四名對不對) 開心(很開心對不對) ==葉金忠馬術教練 王勵國== 原本不曉得金忠是一個高手 藏在我們裡面 平常他做的工作就是 打掃馬廄 餵馬 這些馬廄勤務 在別人看起來 是非常辛苦 比較大家不願意做的 事實上，騎馬不只是運動，還能復健治療，身心障礙者藉著騎馬能訓練感覺統合和協調性。而小至二歲，大到五 六十歲，只要經過治療師評估，都能進行馬術復健治療。 ==啟智技藝訓練中心教練 張兆遠== 生理的部分其實最有妥效的 是在腦性麻痺的一個學員身上 另外一個就是在 所謂的情緒障礙 自閉症 還有智能障礙這一塊 在台灣推展馬術治療超過15年的啟智技藝訓練中心，為身心障礙者舉辦「希望盃」馬術比賽，已經超過12年。他們除了希望讓社會大眾看到騎馬所達到的運動復健成果，也希望為身障者爭取公平參與體育競賽的機會。 記者 詹淑雲 桃園報導