Amid the quiet fields of the Ayalon Valley, an unusual event took place this week. The Open Space Stables, a therapeutic riding ranch in Kfar Shmuel which provides therapeutic care for people with special needs, at-risk youth and individuals coping with PTSD, marked Israel’s 78th Independence Day with a living display. Their therapy horses and instructors arranged themselves in a precise formation to create the number 78, symbolizing the country’s years since its founding.
Farm director Ofer Komarovsky said the horses serve as an anchor for patients, especially during this difficult period.
Since the outbreak of the war, the farm has not stopped its work for a single day. For many patients dealing with ADHD, autism and trauma linked to the security situation, time with the animals has become a lifeline.
“Especially now, this place has become a refuge of sanity,” a staff member said. “Through touch with a horse, a quiet glance or a small moment of trust, something in the inner storm calms and begins to open.”
The decision to form the number 78 with the horses was deliberate. Komarovsky said there are strong parallels between the rehabilitation process of the patients and the story of the State of Israel.
“The horse teaches us resilience, how to keep moving forward even when it’s hard, how to trust again and how to find balance on winding paths,” he said. “That is exactly what our country has been doing for 78 years.”