Meeting some very special working equines

At the end of last week we spontaneously stopped at the Ferme Therapeutique Pour Handicapes (Therapeutic Farm for the Handicapped) (www.fth.org.tn/) in Sidi Thabet. We were greeted by the animal handler (a former jockey) who told us about the school and gave us an informal tour of part of the 7 hectare facility.

 http://www.fth.org.tn/

The mission of the farm is to ensure the well-being of individuals with disabilities by providing care, therapy and agricultural training. The farm believes in the untapped potential of its students and encourages their autonomy and integration into Tunisia's economic and social life.

A Youth, A Handicap, A Future   http://www.fth.org.tn/

A multidisciplinary team (psychologist, speech therapist, educators, sports teacher, animal caretakers) oversees the youth in many activities including art, cooking, horticulture, rabbit breeding, animal care, and making cheese and yogurt. 

Agricultural activities, including "zoothérapie" (pet therapy), seem to be at the center of the therapy process.  The animals calm the youth during therapeutic sessions allowing the students better focus. This animal assisted therapy promotes physical and psychological development. 

a student learns to groom a horse    photo http://www.fth.org.tn/

Our tour included meeting a few of the equines who help with the therapy. We met a very sweet chestnut mare (probably the same one in the website photo from above) who had a swollen eye and was expecting a visit from the veterinarian later in the day. In the usual "while you're here, doc" mode, Tricia took a moment to happily give her opinion and suggestions (animal caretakers have a reputation for providing vets with endless cases to look at).

signs point our way to the barns

Tricia unofficially checks a mare's swollen eye

There was a lovely paddock for the horses, an outdoor and indoor riding arena and a very clean tack room with helmets, saddles and grooming supplies.  Tricia was especially impressed by the well organized tack room maintained by our tour guide, who obviously has a passion for quality horsemanship.

A neat row of helmets and boots awaits the students

The farm also has donkeys which are used particularly for students who require smaller equines. They are especially helpful for individuals in wheelchairs.

photo http://www.fth.org.tn/

Our guide introduced us to one of the farm's "equine employees"

We were also shown some of the horticulture areas which include herb gardens, green houses and tables for potted cactus arrangement production.

Our guides picks mint for Tricia who commented this was one of the nicest facilities she has seen in Tunisia

We don't know if we will have time to return for a visit with the director, but Ferme Therapeutique Pour Handicapes is certainly an organization we would like to know more about. We were very pleased to meet some very special working equines and hope more of Tunisia's donkeys and horses can find similar employment.
We encourage our readers to check out their website (www.fth.org.tn/). Even if you don't speak French, you will see the photos tell the story of an excellent approach to a very worthy cause.

Here's another hint to who the foot in previous post belonged to. Click on the comment section below to see the answer.

a unique skeleton at Sidi Thabet Veterinary School anatomy lab