Animal-assisted therapy

“Helmi” & “Faun” make school a role model for educational programs

Teacher Silvia Brandstätter, pupil Luca Pöckl, Director Stefan Amon, Provincial Councillor Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister, Christopher Denk-Hess and teacher Karin Zenger with the horses Helmi and Faun

(Bild: Jürgen Mück)

The use of Green Care in agriculture has a long tradition at Hollabrunn Technical College: two new horses are now helping with animal-assisted work.

Whether in the social or therapeutic field, or in practical lessons: "Helmi" and "Faun" - two Noriker horses - have been added to the animal population at the Hollabrunn technical college. "The two cold-blooded animals successfully passed the livestock test and are now certified for use in animal-assisted work and education," explains Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister, State Councillor for Education.

Therapy horses in use
Noriker horses are considered sensitive and communicative animals and are therefore beneficial in the therapy of people with physical, mental and social impairments and are regularly used by nursing and care facilities, special schools and kindergartens.

"The horses are also used in practical lessons during training to become an animal keeper, where the students learn how to handle, care for and feed them properly," say Green Care teachers Karin Zenger and Silvia Brandstätter.