One Starfish at a Time | Erika Neo | TEDxYouth@AIS

hello how are you um so till last year

hello how are you um so till last year we had a horse called Lukas and he

we had a horse called Lukas and he

we had a horse called Lukas and he really liked to eat grass

really liked to eat grass

really liked to eat grass he was really greedy and he once decided

he was really greedy and he once decided

he was really greedy and he once decided it was super idea to jump a fence and go

it was super idea to jump a fence and go

it was super idea to jump a fence and go into a paddock all by himself without

into a paddock all by himself without

into a paddock all by himself without using the gate and he impaled himself

using the gate and he impaled himself

using the gate and he impaled himself this meant seven months at the vet

this meant seven months at the vet

this meant seven months at the vet hospital with extensive wound dressing

hospital with extensive wound dressing

hospital with extensive wound dressing to operations and a lot of expensive

to operations and a lot of expensive

to operations and a lot of expensive looking after and then there was Malcolm

looking after and then there was Malcolm

looking after and then there was Malcolm this kid had autistic spectrum disorder

this kid had autistic spectrum disorder

this kid had autistic spectrum disorder and I don’t know if you are familiar

and I don’t know if you are familiar

and I don’t know if you are familiar with this but this kid made no eye

with this but this kid made no eye

with this but this kid made no eye contact and spent a lot of his time

contact and spent a lot of his time

contact and spent a lot of his time zoning out he also had a few self

zoning out he also had a few self

zoning out he also had a few self harming and really dangerous themes he

harming and really dangerous themes he

harming and really dangerous themes he scratched and bit himself and he also

scratched and bit himself and he also

scratched and bit himself and he also suffered from epilepsy Malcolm is

suffered from epilepsy Malcolm is

suffered from epilepsy Malcolm is nonverbal and at the time which was

nonverbal and at the time which was

nonverbal and at the time which was September 2016 Malcolm was learning how

September 2016 Malcolm was learning how

September 2016 Malcolm was learning how to write oh so sorry he’s learning how

to write oh so sorry he’s learning how

to write oh so sorry he’s learning how to hold a pencil and to string some

to hold a pencil and to string some

to hold a pencil and to string some letters together his mom and his

letters together his mom and his

letters together his mom and his teachers felt that it was taking such a

teachers felt that it was taking such a

teachers felt that it was taking such a long time they didn’t even know if he

long time they didn’t even know if he

long time they didn’t even know if he could begin writing at all

could begin writing at all

could begin writing at all and then there was Malcolm at the RDA he

and then there was Malcolm at the RDA he

and then there was Malcolm at the RDA he was always in his own world and he

was always in his own world and he

was always in his own world and he appeared absolutely unresponsive there

appeared absolutely unresponsive there

appeared absolutely unresponsive there was no obvious effect to anything that

was no obvious effect to anything that

was no obvious effect to anything that we tried and that was so with every

we tried and that was so with every

we tried and that was so with every other horse until we tried him on Lukas

other horse until we tried him on Lukas

other horse until we tried him on Lukas and on Lukas he smiled he responded he

and on Lukas he smiled he responded he

and on Lukas he smiled he responded he participated he sat up tall and he paid

participated he sat up tall and he paid

participated he sat up tall and he paid attention he also followed all

attention he also followed all

attention he also followed all sidewalker instructions and he was

sidewalker instructions and he was

sidewalker instructions and he was absolutely super so that’s him over

absolutely super so that’s him over

absolutely super so that’s him over there and then Malcolm found out about

there and then Malcolm found out about

there and then Malcolm found out about Lukas

Lukas

Lukas and when his mom told him he was visibly

and when his mom told him he was visibly

and when his mom told him he was visibly distressed and she didn’t really know

distressed and she didn’t really know

distressed and she didn’t really know what to do and so she tried her luck

what to do and so she tried her luck

what to do and so she tried her luck right and she said push the notepad and

right and she said push the notepad and

right and she said push the notepad and a pencil next to him and said you tried

a pencil next to him and said you tried

a pencil next to him and said you tried and suddenly this boy was writing he

and suddenly this boy was writing he

and suddenly this boy was writing he wrote whole sentences he had perfect

wrote whole sentences he had perfect

wrote whole sentences he had perfect spelling and grammar’ and his hero

spelling and grammar’ and his hero

spelling and grammar’ and his hero entire letters of comfort and

entire letters of comfort and

entire letters of comfort and encouragement to a horse that had

encouragement to a horse that had

encouragement to a horse that had impaled itself on a fence

impaled itself on a fence

impaled itself on a fence and I decided to go stright on Lucas’s

and I decided to go stright on Lucas’s

and I decided to go stright on Lucas’s behalf and that’s Lucas reading his

behalf and that’s Lucas reading his

behalf and that’s Lucas reading his letters from Malcolm and I I try to get

letters from Malcolm and I I try to get

letters from Malcolm and I I try to get the vet department to cooperate with me

the vet department to cooperate with me

the vet department to cooperate with me and that’s what they did so yeah so the

and that’s what they did so yeah so the

and that’s what they did so yeah so the fact that he was writing is that magic

fact that he was writing is that magic

fact that he was writing is that magic because III don’t know so hi my name is

because III don’t know so hi my name is

because III don’t know so hi my name is Erica and I’ve worked my whole life with

Erica and I’ve worked my whole life with

Erica and I’ve worked my whole life with horses in Singapore now horses in

horses in Singapore now horses in

horses in Singapore now horses in Singapore are synonymous with a lot of

Singapore are synonymous with a lot of

Singapore are synonymous with a lot of money okay let’s just be honest a lot of

money okay let’s just be honest a lot of

money okay let’s just be honest a lot of money and novelty all this amazing stuff

money and novelty all this amazing stuff

money and novelty all this amazing stuff that you see at racing and polo at

that you see at racing and polo at

that you see at racing and polo at dressage is so jumping and you know that

dressage is so jumping and you know that

dressage is so jumping and you know that show Cavalia it spoiled it for all of us

versus what I actually do on a daily

versus what I actually do on a daily basis I work at the writing for the

basis I work at the writing for the

basis I work at the writing for the disabled and now my job focuses on

disabled and now my job focuses on

disabled and now my job focuses on movement the movement of a horse for

movement the movement of a horse for

movement the movement of a horse for balance

balance

balance improving focus and coordination we use

improving focus and coordination we use

improving focus and coordination we use movement for the disabled horses help

movement for the disabled horses help

movement for the disabled horses help people and me horses for me are a source

people and me horses for me are a source

people and me horses for me are a source of Solace and honesty if thought there

of Solace and honesty if thought there

of Solace and honesty if thought there is just no point a lot of the time we

is just no point a lot of the time we

is just no point a lot of the time we look at big obstacles and big stuff

look at big obstacles and big stuff

look at big obstacles and big stuff in front of us and we go I’m not afraid

in front of us and we go I’m not afraid

in front of us and we go I’m not afraid I’m alright I can do this and then there

I’m alright I can do this and then there

I’m alright I can do this and then there are some days like that day when you

are some days like that day when you

are some days like that day when you look at that gigantic jump and you go oh

look at that gigantic jump and you go oh

look at that gigantic jump and you go oh my god I am afraid and I think I just

my god I am afraid and I think I just

my god I am afraid and I think I just can’t and with horses that’s okay

can’t and with horses that’s okay

can’t and with horses that’s okay and with horses it’s a partnership it’s

and with horses it’s a partnership it’s

and with horses it’s a partnership it’s just about you too and you just gotta

just about you too and you just gotta

just about you too and you just gotta trust each other

trust each other

trust each other and we walk through it a little bit by a

and we walk through it a little bit by a

and we walk through it a little bit by a little bit but we’ll get through to all

little bit but we’ll get through to all

little bit but we’ll get through to all of it together and if you don’t you just

of it together and if you don’t you just

of it together and if you don’t you just get back on and try again okay so more

get back on and try again okay so more

get back on and try again okay so more on trust right which other animal lets

on trust right which other animal lets

on trust right which other animal lets you get on it and then jump over other

you get on it and then jump over other

you get on it and then jump over other stuff and keep you on that I don’t think

stuff and keep you on that I don’t think

stuff and keep you on that I don’t think it’s another animal let you do that

it’s another animal let you do that

it’s another animal let you do that right so in the riding school I taught

right so in the riding school I taught

right so in the riding school I taught lesson after lesson after lesson and

lesson after lesson after lesson and

lesson after lesson after lesson and here I get back more than what I put in

here I get back more than what I put in

here I get back more than what I put in here let’s bear in mind that here I pick

here let’s bear in mind that here I pick

here let’s bear in mind that here I pick a really flighty animal that’s a prey

a really flighty animal that’s a prey

a really flighty animal that’s a prey animal that runs first and ask questions

animal that runs first and ask questions

animal that runs first and ask questions later

later

later and I purposely put a disabled person on

and I purposely put a disabled person on

and I purposely put a disabled person on I think it takes a special kind of horse

so horses are really good for you just

so horses are really good for you just see right who’s got a cat or a dog

see right who’s got a cat or a dog

see right who’s got a cat or a dog silver and who spends a lot of time

silver and who spends a lot of time

silver and who spends a lot of time wishing they could be with their cat or

wishing they could be with their cat or

wishing they could be with their cat or dog cuddling instead of your day job

dog cuddling instead of your day job

dog cuddling instead of your day job okay okay so you like to do this because

okay okay so you like to do this because

okay okay so you like to do this because cuddling and animal increases oxytocin

cuddling and animal increases oxytocin

cuddling and animal increases oxytocin levels and oxytocin levels equals

levels and oxytocin levels equals

levels and oxytocin levels equals happiness and guess what horses also

happiness and guess what horses also

happiness and guess what horses also increased oxytocin levels they make you

increased oxytocin levels they make you

increased oxytocin levels they make you happy so cuddling a horse is happiness

happy so cuddling a horse is happiness

happy so cuddling a horse is happiness and so this is how horses can help

and so this is how horses can help

and so this is how horses can help people mentally and physically and

people mentally and physically and

people mentally and physically and emotionally horses can also put people

emotionally horses can also put people

emotionally horses can also put people in their place I once knew this really

in their place I once knew this really

in their place I once knew this really loud guy he was a mouse running joke

loud guy he was a mouse running joke

loud guy he was a mouse running joke retching gangster if ik dude right and

retching gangster if ik dude right and

retching gangster if ik dude right and while he was doing his do you thing I

while he was doing his do you thing I

while he was doing his do you thing I don’t know what it was also he was

don’t know what it was also he was

don’t know what it was also he was looking a bit ridiculous but he was very

looking a bit ridiculous but he was very

looking a bit ridiculous but he was very happy with himself and he slipped

happy with himself and he slipped

happy with himself and he slipped backwards next to a gigantic horse and

backwards next to a gigantic horse and

backwards next to a gigantic horse and he landed dramatically next to a horse

he landed dramatically next to a horse

he landed dramatically next to a horse almost underneath him and I expected the

almost underneath him and I expected the

almost underneath him and I expected the biggest bukas it was dramatic but the

biggest bukas it was dramatic but the

biggest bukas it was dramatic but the horse sidestepped and instead of

horse sidestepped and instead of

horse sidestepped and instead of stepping on and just looked at him like

stepping on and just looked at him like

stepping on and just looked at him like whoa what are you doing and this dude

whoa what are you doing and this dude

whoa what are you doing and this dude looked up at that big horse and was

looked up at that big horse and was

looked up at that big horse and was instantly humbled horses teach you

instantly humbled horses teach you

instantly humbled horses teach you things that you didn’t know you needed

things that you didn’t know you needed

things that you didn’t know you needed to know and horses give you freedom kids

to know and horses give you freedom kids

to know and horses give you freedom kids come through my work and with all kinds

come through my work and with all kinds

come through my work and with all kinds of syndromes and disabilities there are

of syndromes and disabilities there are

of syndromes and disabilities there are thousands and the world is saying that

thousands and the world is saying that

thousands and the world is saying that they can’t with all these apparatus that

they can’t with all these apparatus that

they can’t with all these apparatus that they come in you know wheelchairs also

they come in you know wheelchairs also

they come in you know wheelchairs also crutches also K walkers and all these

crutches also K walkers and all these

crutches also K walkers and all these things that oh you look at it and you go

things that oh you look at it and you go

things that oh you look at it and you go oh he can’t and suddenly they’re on a

oh he can’t and suddenly they’re on a

oh he can’t and suddenly they’re on a horse and suddenly they are sitting up

horse and suddenly they are sitting up

horse and suddenly they are sitting up really tall and suddenly in a small

really tall and suddenly in a small

really tall and suddenly in a small small part of their day they feel like

small part of their day they feel like

small part of their day they feel like they’re walking and in for that one

they’re walking and in for that one

they’re walking and in for that one moment they are free and that they

moment they are free and that they

moment they are free and that they absolutely can and so I think it’s magic

absolutely can and so I think it’s magic

absolutely can and so I think it’s magic because I cannot explain it the impact

because I cannot explain it the impact

because I cannot explain it the impact that Luke has had on Malcolm because he

that Luke has had on Malcolm because he

that Luke has had on Malcolm because he was a nonverbal guy he’s learning how to

was a nonverbal guy he’s learning how to

was a nonverbal guy he’s learning how to hold a pencil at fifteen years old

hold a pencil at fifteen years old

hold a pencil at fifteen years old okay sure he had all kinds of other

okay sure he had all kinds of other

okay sure he had all kinds of other therapy as well but then he met Lucas

therapy as well but then he met Lucas

therapy as well but then he met Lucas and he was writing he was writing

and he was writing he was writing

and he was writing he was writing letters full of emotion and empathy yes

letters full of emotion and empathy yes

letters full of emotion and empathy yes oh and guess what he even requested to

oh and guess what he even requested to

oh and guess what he even requested to give flowers when Lukas passed away this

give flowers when Lukas passed away this

give flowers when Lukas passed away this kid did not engage previously he wanted

kid did not engage previously he wanted

kid did not engage previously he wanted to give seven whole dollars of his

to give seven whole dollars of his

to give seven whole dollars of his Chinese New Year money to their gigantic

Chinese New Year money to their gigantic

Chinese New Year money to their gigantic gigantic medical bill that Lukas had

gigantic medical bill that Lukas had

gigantic medical bill that Lukas had incurred and he came with his backpack

incurred and he came with his backpack

incurred and he came with his backpack and gave it to us he also counted it out

and gave it to us he also counted it out

and gave it to us he also counted it out oh no he just shoved it in our faces

oh no he just shoved it in our faces

oh no he just shoved it in our faces really

really

really okay so hippotherapy helps children who

okay so hippotherapy helps children who

okay so hippotherapy helps children who can’t walk or people who can’t walk who

can’t walk or people who can’t walk who

can’t walk or people who can’t walk who are dependent solely on their caregivers

are dependent solely on their caregivers

are dependent solely on their caregivers and it makes them feel like they can

and it makes them feel like they can

and it makes them feel like they can achieve something and it makes them one

achieve something and it makes them one

achieve something and it makes them one step closer to achieving or doing an

step closer to achieving or doing an

step closer to achieving or doing an activity of daily living on their own

activity of daily living on their own

activity of daily living on their own and independently there are youth who

and independently there are youth who

and independently there are youth who grow up in violent and angry

grow up in violent and angry

grow up in violent and angry environments they’re never given a

environments they’re never given a

environments they’re never given a chance and I watched them brush a pony

chance and I watched them brush a pony

chance and I watched them brush a pony that was abused previously with only

that was abused previously with only

that was abused previously with only gentleness and they’ve never seen a

gentleness and they’ve never seen a

gentleness and they’ve never seen a horse before and they start to care and

horse before and they start to care and

horse before and they start to care and they become really protective so though

they become really protective so though

they become really protective so though my job is not glamorous it’s also not so

my job is not glamorous it’s also not so

my job is not glamorous it’s also not so pretty and on some odd days I get hit I

pretty and on some odd days I get hit I

pretty and on some odd days I get hit I get spat on I get beaten I get bitten

get spat on I get beaten I get bitten

get spat on I get beaten I get bitten and I get sneezed on just as long as not

and I get sneezed on just as long as not

and I get sneezed on just as long as not on the same day it’s just a bit too much

on the same day it’s just a bit too much

on the same day it’s just a bit too much okay