Donzdorf: Symposium for the future of children's riding schools on August 1st!

Donzdorf: Symposium for the future of children's riding schools on August 1st!

The third symposium on the future of children's riding schools will take place on August 1, 2025 at the Birkhof Stud in Donzdorf. This event, which is organized as part of the dressage festival, is run by the Horses for Our Children Association. V. aligned. It marks a very special anniversary: ​​ten years of commitment to children and horses.

The symposium begins at 1:00 p.m., admission opens at 12:45 p.m. Participation is free, but prior registration is required by July 30, 2025. Anyone interested can register at vetter@pferde-fuer-unsere-kinder.de. Drinks and snacks will be provided on site, so helping with the culinary side of this event can also be considered.

Diverse program

The symposium program offers exciting insights and various lectures that deal with child-friendly learning in the riding stables. Stefanie Tennigkeit from the HIPPOLINI Institute will introduce you to the basics of developmental psychology. Nicole Hugger from HOF – MENSCH – TIER will report on animal-assisted intervention with farm animals.

There are also interesting insights into projects such as the “Horse Adventure Days” at the Lutz Pony Farm and horseback riding in the Arche Noah kindergarten. The program will be completed by a panel discussion in which companions of the association will take part.

The importance of animals for children

The symposium therefore places a strong focus on the valuable role that animals, especially horses, play in the development of children. According to information from the association, animals are ideal learning companions who, by interacting with them, can promote children's need for relationships and thus increase their motivation to learn. Children take responsibility, learn camaraderie, emotional stability, reliability, respect for nature, self-confidence and security.

These assumptions reflect the findings of psychoanalytic social psychology, which has been researching people's need to get closer to non-human creatures and nature since the 1930s. This need is particularly pronounced in children who are less influenced by social socialization mechanisms. The aim of the association is to impart knowledge about the benefits of dealing with animals to parents, teachers and educators and to create enthusiasm for horses.

Further information about the symposium and the association's commitment can be found on the organization's website at horses-for-our-children.de.