At age 29 Victoria Dancheva has three degrees from three universities in three different countries. But she has decided to devote all of her passion to developing a riding school in her home town. Two years ago she went to the stables in Plovdiv and felt an old passion flare back to life. Victoria’s parents are professional athletes and they tried to win their daughter over for different kinds of sports. Until one day they saw pure love blossom between child and horse. One day, many years later, Victoria went out riding and started taking care of the mare Mimosa, but she also made herself a promise – that she would fight to make the riding school a better place because at that time it was more like a concentration camp.

After tackling a host of problems with the owners, six months ago Victoria won the auction for the riding school and now has seven horses under her care. One of them is Grammatika, whose misfortunes almost took her to the slaughterhouse. Another mare – Indra is so beautiful that she often takes part in photo sessions. Victoria has serious plans for Victory Equestrian, located at the entrance to the city - to expand the riding school, to glaze the second floor where visitors can watch the riders, to create more green areas, to open a café and many other things. And all out of love of horses.

“Horses are such noble animals, they will never hurt a human being knowingly, they even try to protect them,” says Victoria. “A bond of love is created between man and animal.”

With her horses she has been helping children with special needs advance their development. That is why there are so many children coming to the riding school with such pleasure.

“When children ride horses they acquire discipline. Horses are an irresistible attraction for them and they form a bond – and all of a sudden a child that is autistic, a child who does not speak, who can’t stand to be touched wants to be with the animal and the animal wants to be with the child. And that gives children immense pleasure and a sense of security, helping them open up to the world a little bit more. With children with spinal problems horse riding creates a balance and is good for their vestibular system.”

English version: Milena Daynova