Accompanied by their parents and caretakers, the children – who are of different ethnic and religious backgrounds – enjoyed yuletide music and a sumptuous meal at the Royal Selangor Polo Club in Ampang Hilir.
RDAM is a voluntary, non-profit organisation that provides opportunities for young people with various disabilities. At the event, its president, Aziz Abdul Rahman, called on those present to set aside racial and religious differences and celebrate all festivals like true Malaysians.
“We should move forward as a united community, not only on Christmas or New Year, but Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Wesak Day, Deepavali, and other festivities that will forge a closer rapport and understanding of diverse cultures,” he said.
Also in attendance were RDAM’s chief instructor and national chief coordinator, retired Royal Malaysian Navy Warrant Officer I Muthusamy Kandasamy, as well as riding volunteers and members from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) horse-riding unit.
Aziz thanked the Royal Selangor Polo Club and other organisations for its facilities and contributions that enable the children to undergo horse-riding exercises for their therapeutic rehabilitation. He later went around presenting gifts to the children and joined them at the luncheon.
According to Aziz, RDAM has roped in 6,000 volunteers to help some 5,000 disabled children nationwide receive horse-riding therapy. “We already have 14 training centres and will soon have another three at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysian, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, and Universiti Malaysia Pahang,” he said.
He added that last year, RDAM engaged 669 riders and 38 horses to carry out specialised horse-riding therapy for 191 slow learners, 152 cerebral palsy patients, 176 Down Syndrome children, 55 with autism, 84 with global delay development, four with hearing problems, six with speech learning challenges, and one with vision issues.
With horse-riding therapy, also known as equine therapy, special-needs individuals interact with the animals and specialised riding instructors to acquire communication, socialisation, motor-control, and sensory-processing skills.
The activity has been shown to build core strength as well as help participants gain self-esteem, discipline and empathy while experiencing joy.