歷史性的一刻

2008/11/29希望盃身障馬術比賽 社員心得 Part II

科科，今天要交的作文將將好可以用到 XD

熱騰騰的喔～～～ 今天半夜三點才出爐的呢～～

Confined Body but with Infinite Hope—My First Experience to be a Volunteer

“Because of riding, I have the freedom to sprint; because of riding, I have the courage to surmount barriers; because of riding, I have the opportunity to challenge myself. Being a rider, I honor and love equestrianism.” David Kuo, a ten-year-old boy on wheelchair who suffered from cerebral palsy due to premature birth took an oath with his vigorous voice in the opening of the Hope Cup 2008. The Hope Cup is an annual and the only equestrian game held in Taiwan for disabled people from all over the nation as well as from abroad. For those families and friends, it’s a great event to encourage and cheer up for their beloved ones who undertake the therapeutic riding. Last Saturday, November 29, my club members and I had this priceless experience to be volunteers for the Hope Cup, in which I witnessed the brightness and beauty of humankind, and in which I understood more about therapeutic riding.

The most common stereotype of riding or equestrianism is often linked to the nobility and the rich. There’re only few people who understand riding as a physical therapy for disabled people.

“How can possibly people who aren’t able to walk, run, talk, eat, and drink
‘normally’ to go riding?”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Why choose therapeutic riding but not a… normal hospital?”

Indeed, while conceiving and depicting the image of “disabled people get on horseback,” those cruel yet somehow punctual doubts quickly whip through our mind. And most of the time, our first impression stays as “Unbelievable!” or “Cool!” Put aside those words, what do people exactly know about therapeutic riding? “None.” or “Heard of it.”? Unlike common physical therapy, therapeutic riding is a physical therapy takes place in the outdoor. What patients meet face to face are not cold, metal instruments but a hot-blooded living creature, a horse; and there’s no air which is full of the odor of alcohol and medicine but the fragrance of soil and hay. With professional therapists, instructors, and stable horses, the safety is ensured. Though therapeutic therapy developed late in Taiwan, the achievement those disabled riders have done should never be neglected. David, for instance, got a prize in the equestrian game held for the disabled in Yokohama, Japan last month. His victory spurred himself, and his family encouraged him to participate in the Hope Cup 2008 to conquer challenges again.

Nonetheless, David was not the only child participant for the Hope Cup 2008. There were many young boys and girls who suffer from different diseases which cause them physically incapable also joined this annual event passionately. No matter being adults or children, physically or psychologically ill, all participants got on horseback under the assistance of instructors, therapists, and volunteers. Though participants often suffered from cerebral palsy, autism, and mental retardation, they all strived to hold the rein in hand and put their feet into the stirrups. Due to the congenital diseases, most of their bodies were too stiff to do that on their own. They shivered and stiffened. But with the help of instructors and therapists, the encouragement from family, and their own determination, they trembled, and then succeed doing this act which seemed simple in our eyes. To some people, they might seem awkward, but what surpassed everything on spot was that by doing this act, their perseverance shone out and brightened everyone. That was the true beauty, the divine spirit of humanity.

The radiant sun shone on the arena and lighted up participants’ faces. The audience clapped and cheered up for their family. We as volunteers pulled horses forth in order to assist riders to accomplish their contest routes. Losing or winning didn’t matter at all because each participant all carried a brilliant big smile which warmed up my heart while they were riding. In their smiles, I saw the purity of humankind, and their smiles were the prettiest I had never seen. Although my cheeks were burnt red for standing under the bright sunshine for a whole day, it was the most substantial day I had never experienced. Because of riding, I had the opportunity to dedicate myself to people who needed my help; because of riding, I had a precious experience to be a volunteer; because of riding, I saw the greatness and beauty of human being, and I would never erase it from my mind.

2008/11/29希望盃身障馬術比賽 社員心得

因為禮拜六社團要去桃園希望盃當志工
早上六點半得到馬場
意思是~五點半就得起床(當下我覺得時間過的真快啊)
一早的清大真的很漂亮，如果不是寒流來更好

由於比賽的選手比較特殊
馬具也比較繁瑣~
一般人騎馬只要套個疆繩就夠了
教練們當天還要再多加個特殊的繩子(有握把 讓手不方便的人握的)
還有八方疆(不知道是不是這樣叫) 口銜也長得很複雜
天啊我完全不會用啊~還好這些都是教練們上的，如果他們看到我這樣哩哩落落的
一定會想...你真的是馬術社嗎= =

到了會場先幫馬暖身
我騎的馬叫sky
是匹金黃色毛的駝馬
他很鈍而且常被自己的腳ㄎㄟˊ到
(駝馬都這樣嗎= =)不過鈍鈍的總比敏感好...
看致維跟karna騎的那隻Jolly
肚帶中間還要隔一層汗墊，不能拉也不能踢
(這樣如果它停不下來怎麼辦|||)
有一個男生在下馬時拉到他
馬拱背了，他嚇到所以大叫...

這天還有遠從香港及日本過來的朋友呢~
叫"身障馬術賽"
顧名思義，參賽者大多是身體不方便 或是自閉症患者
所有小細節務必小心再小心，避免任何差錯
畢竟他們跟一般人不一樣
不知道一摔下來會有什麼結果
我本來懷疑:我是不是反而幫倒忙了
因為我不知道每個選手的狀況跟要注意的地方
(馬也有乖的跟比較危險的)
德國籍的教練還抱頭喊"你們到底有沒有搞清楚狀況啊~"
不過聽到大維跟我們說"你們幫我很大的忙喔"
我心裡就很欣慰了
頒獎的時候，每個得獎的選手都笑的很燦爛
因為馬術運動，他們證明"別人做得到，我也可以"
因為馬術運動，他們找到自信心，不用害怕別人的眼光
因為馬術運動，他們結交許多朋友
一整天下來雖然累但也很充實
不懂就從錯誤中學習

btw,趣味競賽的獎品超有趣的呀~是糖果做成的項鍊
比起馬術雜誌，得獎者會比較喜歡這個吧XD
回去的時候他們還請我們吃點心
肉桂蛋糕好吃啊~~好想再來一塊!
晚上又讓阿姨請了
阿姨真大手筆~一人一碗粥還有鹽酥雞和飲料通通免費~感謝捏
然後王哥對每個人都講了一些話~
對於你你還有你
雖然你們自己覺得有地方沒辦法突破，但同時你們擁有好多我羨慕的優點
只是從沒對你們說而已
真的很開心有你們的陪伴
目前單身的也好有家室的也好~以後一定要請我去喝你們的喜酒啊

最近好多人都賺錢啊
社聚一定要很嗨!!
這天晚上我十點半就睡著了...開學後最早睡...果然有累到:(