About EST

Dr Elisabeth D Svendsen MBE is the Founder and Honorary Administrator of the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST), a charity dedicated to providing riding therapy with donkeys to children with special needs and disabilities.

The aims of the EST are to bring enjoyment and pleasure into the lives of children with special needs and disabilities and to give them the satisfaction that comes with the achievement of learning riding skills.

Riding skills are taught by qualified riding instructors using the donkey because of its placid nature. In addition, children are encouraged to groom and care for the donkeys.

The children who attend the centres have a wide range of disabilities; some may have learning difficulties, others are physically disabled or have behavioural problems, brain damage or sensory impairment.

Children are brought to the centres daily by their school or hospital, and once a month on a Saturday or during school holidays they can attend clubs with their families.

During the summer months mobile units operate, taking donkeys to those children in schools and hospitals who, because of their disabilities, cannot travel to the centres.

Every week up to 150 children attend each centre. Their ages range from one year to young adults and those too heavy for the donkeys, are taught to drive a small cart.