Half Dust, Half Deity: 2008希望盃國際身心障礙者馬術邀請賽：深觸我內心的美麗經驗

《前言》

閱讀與寫作剛好要交篇essay，我就把我十一月二十九號的當天情景用有限的文字寫了下來。我至今一憶起小選手宣誓那場景，仍眼眶泛紅、深受感動。那個畫面刻在我腦中，動人心弦。我純粹想要分享我這個經驗、心得，因此貼在我的網誌上。即使這是我已看過無數次的作品、我自己的創作，我每讀一次，仍久久不能自己。明年、後年、大後年，只要我有能力，我仍會繼續擔任希望盃的志工。

自由演繹第一名的帥氣阿肯

很顯然馬（巴斯光年）和人（張先生致維）都累了

騎Domingo 熱馬

活動落幕後，我也騎著小花去玩一下趣味競賽的S型路線 XD

比賽開始前大家烈馬隊熱馬

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.