Tack stolen from stable

Jacky du Plessis of Shumbashaba said they were robbed of 25 saddles and 30 bridles which was almost all the stable’s tack.

“We are not your traditional riding school, but run Horses Helping People programmes for disadvantaged communities, namely Diepsloot,” Du Plessis said.

She explained that Shumbashaba was a non-profit community organisation which focused on how horses could positively impact people and helped to change lives for the better.

“To date our multi-award winning programmes have had a positive impact on more than 1 500 people,” Du Plessis said. This is done through riding and non-riding programmes. The riding programmes encompass therapeutic riding for people with disabilities, and integrated riding as sport and recreation programmes. The non-riding programmes focus on the healing power of horses which is enhanced through experiential therapy with the horses. The non-riding programmes teach life skills and healing to vulnerable children, youth and adults from Diepsloot who may have been victims of abuse, violence or other forms of trauma.

The burglary could not have come at a worse time for Shumbashaba because they will be hosting the Unified Sports Day with Special Olympics South Africa on 3 May. They will need the tack to train and prepare their riders for the event. They also can’t continue their therapeutic riding programmes without the necessary tack.

While donations of tack will be welcomed by Shumbashaba, Du Plessis explained that the equipment did not always fit their horses nor meet their requirements because each horse had a different shape. “It is the same with bridles as they come in different sizes with different bits and mostly do not have the specialised reins required for people with disabilities,” she said.

Du Plessis added that donations of cash would help the stable immensely.

Details: www.shumbashaba.co.za, www.facebook.com/shumbashaba, jacky@shumbashaba.co.za