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How horseriding has empowered a blind Emirati student - in pictures
vidhyaa chandramohan
Jan 4, 2022
Shaikha Habes Al Mansouri is a Zayed University graduate student in her last year. She is blind, but she recognizes that having an impairment allows her to inspire others who are determined to achieve their goals, and riding horses gives her confidence at Abu Dhabi , UAE
"I adore all animals, but horses are special," says Shaikha Habes Al Mansouri. I don't need to ride all the time to be happy, but I do need to be able to engage with them on some level. Equines nourish and ground me on a deep level. When I'm away from horses for a few weeks, I feel agitated and unsure of myself.
Shaikha Habes Al Mansouri hopes to be a role model for the blind and visually impaired, as well as a teacher for visually impaired children, and is now completing her last year of early childhood education.
Technology has made my life easier, especially the Braille note touch, which aids me in completing my schooling on a regular basis, adds Shaikha.
I chose horseback riding because it offers me a sense of flight and release from my daily routine; when I spend time with horses, I feel at ease, and they are able to comprehend my emotions; I always feed them carrots before beginning the ride, says, Shaikha
Shaikha said, "My mother is a wonderful support for me in my life; she encourages me to try new things and gives me freedom. Similarly, my friends support me at college and when I want to try new things, particularly horsing; they always assist me when I want to go horsing".
Shaikha says that when she rides a horse, she gains body awareness, confidence, and self-esteem, and she concludes that there are several outstanding advantages, particularly when spending time with horses.
When the man holds the horse's opposite end to make it easier for Shaikha to get upon it, she becomes delighted to ride the horse at Abu Dhabi, UAE
I suggest everyone to preserve some desire to relax themselves in the daily routine by going horsing with a group of ladies, and when I go horsing with them, I won't feel different from them at Abu Dhabi,UAE
Shaikha is a member of the Emirates Association for the Visually Impaired, and one of her ambitions is to become a teacher for visually impaired children, encouraging them to participate in a variety of activities.
I wish to encourage many young people, particularly visually impaired youngsters, who have overcome numerous obstacles to become self-sufficient says Shaikha.
"When I first began school, I was terrified since everything was so foreign to me. But now that I've been studying for a while, I've grown to not be frightened of anything. I grew as a person as a result of the education I received at university, which allowed me to better relate to others ""I wouldn't have been able to accomplish my dreams if it weren't for the support of my family," Shaikha remarked.
"When I'm with him, I don't think about my impairment. I simply don't feel like myself "she said
