Inspired by Bravo’s recent comment on Ike’s post:
I’m sure most of you have heard of this splendid organisation. Before I became involved some years ago, I must confess that I regarded the combination of the unpredictable equine and the mentally and/or physically disabled to be a recipe for disaster.
This turned out not to be the case at all; I helped out one day a week for several years and the only injury was to my foot, when I was trodden on by one of the horses and didn’t dare take my riding boot off for hours because it was so painful!
Obviously they only use quiet, well mannered horses and ponies, but they seemed to understand the limitations of their riders and were always beautifully behaved. Most of the lessons took place in an indoor school, but we did used to venture out when we had enough helpers to cope.
My group was very varied and included a sixteen year old with Down Syndrome, a twenty one year old in a wheelchair who has been involved in a motor bike accident and we used to use a specialised hoist to get him up on the horse. Taking him round the school involved one of us leading, and another two either side to move him back into the saddle when he slipped sideways. I did once ask his mother, who used to help, if this was really worth the effort involved and she assured us that it was the highlight of his week and he was always disappointed if we had to cancel for any reason.
Once a year we used to take them to a Gymkhana, which was a logistical nightmare to transport, and keep an eye on riders and mounts, but well worth it to see the delight when any of our charges won rosettes.
It was a long day: I used to drive to where the ponies were kept, catch them, groom them, tack them up and ride one and lead the other two, a couple of miles to the local stables. The reverse journey was always a pain because the horses were heading for home and food, and I suspect they were a little bored with traipsing around the indoor school for several hours.
The sixteen year old lad used to work a few days a week, organising trolleys at a local supermarket and whenever I shopped there, he would come rushing over, give me an enormous hug. He was always waiting at the checkout to pack my groceries and insisted on wheeling them out to the car and loading them into the boot!
Boadicea's Chariot 
Last week I had a local company offer me a gallon of brandy, it’s a big, big bottle, as a prize or as a raffle. I wasn’t happy with that, I wanted a hamper, glasses ice bucket, optic etc.
Today I was offered 40 cases of biscuits as a fundraiser, how big is a cases of biscuits I asked. It’s about 2 shoeboxes.
That’s a lot of biscuits.
it sounds greaat, Araminta. i climbed onto a horse yesterday for the first time in 20 years or so, now I ache all over. (I need to get back up to speed as my Granddaughter, 3, is mad about horses and I want to go out with her in Cyprus in the summer.)
Nice blog Araminta, quite heart warming, sounds like a great charity.
Not a horse type myself, the closest I got was a trip to Imber Court where the Met Police train their horses. Our small group were invited to watch a display of riding skills in the large indoor training arena. We stood in a corner very close to the small mountain of by product that horses and roses are famed for. One of the charges came a bit close for my liking and I stepped back and nearly ended up covered in glory but was saved by a rather buxom WPC who was looking after us. She still writes.
Soutie – It may be just the contrast in the photograph, but that is the most magical horse I have ever seen. I’ve never worked with horses, but we enrolled our German Shepherds in a charity that took dogs and other receptive animals into childrens’ wards, hospices and care homes. The interraction between long-term (or often terminal) patients and the dogs was invariably remarkable and there were many times I came away with something in my eye.
OZ
Evening all: I’m not ignoring you, but we are just about to eat, so I’ll be back. Some lovely comments though 😉
Oz: the photograph is of my pony called Mouse. She was the prettiest thing 🙂
Oh, FFS – Sorry Araminta and Soutie. I am conditioned to look at the first “MyT” style comment to see who wrote the thread. My comments still apply, though.
Oi, BEARSY! Ebough cricket already!! Can you make the author’s link in the header in a MAHOOSIVE big font, pretty please, while we all adapt?
OZ
Yes Araminta it’s really (Gulp) heartwarming.
Sorry Oz – I haven’t a clue what you mean, I haven’t blogged about cricket for a couple of days. What author’s link in which header? What is ‘mahoosive”? Adapt to what?
Let me be clear, I am not joking, I do not understand anything about your comment. 😥
Evening OZ
Never heard of German Shepherds working with the disabled, we had a programme down here with dolphins! Horses are good though.
SOunds lovely, Araminta. It’s incredible, the huge difference that you can make in a child’s life by doing something like this.
Bolleaux – “enough”, FFS, and I’m still deliberating over “comments still apply” as opposed to the currently preferable “comment still applies”. I hate these non-previewable windows – they make me look like a stubby-fingered owl of little brain. 😦
OZ
Bearsy – Perhaps it needed a smiley thing after “enough cricket already”. I was wondering if you could put the author’s name on the same line and in the same font size as the title – just for us hard of understanding 🙂
“Mahoosive” is “really, really, really big”
“Adapt” to WordPress layout and keystrokes after learning and being brainwashed on MyT.
Soutie – Well, it wasn’t so much the phsically disabled as Araminta was doing with the horses, but more those confined to bed for whatever reason. Kids who hadn’t spoken to a therapisst for weeks would chat happlily to an Alsatian or other breed lying on their bed. German Shepherds are remarkably calm dogs, despite their reputation. We even had police “land sharks” in the group.
OZ
OZ
Point taken.
I agree, whatever it takes the reactions would never be the same, doesn’t matter if it improved one youngsters life it was time and money well spent.
Oz, dear chap, I wish I could, but as I’ve said a million times before (well, half a dozen, perhaps), I have no control over the free WordPress templates. We choose a template and we’re stuck with it. We have to take the rough with the smooth.
I cannot alter the layout, I cannot give you a preview for comments.
If we change to a ‘paid for’ version of WordPress.org, I can provide all those things, but it will take time. In the background I am spending hours and hours investigating it.
Starting from the top.
Soutie: it is not an easy job; fund-raising or making time. I know you and your wife do a great deal of this. I am not involved with RDA any more. It was physically and emotionally demanding but I don’t regret one hour of it. It was rewarding for me too, and a tremendous learning curve. I was used to horses, but not used to dealing with the mentally or physically disabled.
Thanks Bravo, and it was your comment that inspired this post. It is very easy to feel as you did, at first and another thing to decide to get involved and find out more. More people should do it, but I can understand the reluctance. It is rewarding though, and especially meeting the families and understanding a little more about the problems, and yes, doing something to help. I admit, I was very reluctant, as I said, but not any more.
OMG: thank you, and I understand the non-horsey do find these rather large creatures somewhat intimidating. I used to watch in abject horror when small children, mine included used to take the most amazing liberties with ponies. Standing behind them and plaiting their tails. Amazing they survived really, I’m sure “elf and safety” would have had a fit! 😉
Oz: I do think that connections with animals be it horses or dogs, which after all, have had a long association with humans it very therapeutic. It is a physical and emotional connection, and much more basic that we understand.
I have a friends who puppy walk and are involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind, and having kept Labradors who seem to the most trainable dogs for this purpose, I can only wonder at the training that is involved. My two would have cheerfully dragged me under an oncoming bus, if they hell bent on food or some other distraction. They would have been full of remorse, of course, but that’s hardly the point.
Thanks Jazz and Claire, it seemed like quite hard work at the time, but the appreciation from the families and the intrepid riders, made it all worthwhile. Yes, I know it sounds like some middle class, “let help the less fortunate”, but believe me, it was not that easy, especially at first.
“Oz: I do think that connections with animals be it horses or dogs, which after all, have had a long association with humans is very therapeutic. It is a physical and emotional connection, and much more basic that we understand.”
Point made, and nuch better than I did. End of discussion.
OZ
Dear Oz: big smiley thing 🙂
Good on yer’ – Araminta!
Thanks, Boadicea. I now feel guilty for not doing more, but I still do a little for local charities, and support them as much I feel I can. It’s never enough though.
Araminta – Wolves can be therapeutic too, you know. The furballs were rescued, in a way as I was very, very pished at the time. Big sleepy thing to you and a big, wakey MORNIN’ to Boadicea. Get the kettle on, girl – you know what he’s like before his second cuppa and we’ll all suffer. 🙂
OZ
Wolves are very special Oz, and yes, the furballs should be jolly grateful although they probably don’t say so. It’s not their way 🙂
Hi Ara, I have had contact locally with those who used to do riding for the disabled in this area. It is a marvellous activity which suits so many children, though my eldest wouldn’t go near any animal with fur so I have never pursued it!
I think ponies are good for children. Mine learnt to ride, but I can’t say they were keen; they certainly weren’t pony mad. Mouse was bought to keep my horse company but she was the right size for the children too.
I did a bit of riding for the disabled when i still lived in the UK, but only the stopping the rider sliding off, nothing on the organizational side. Never understood why anyone wouldn’t enjoy sitting on a horse and pottering about, but the downside is the falling off bit.
Evening CB: yes, but stopping the rider sliding off is quite essential sometimes 🙂 I’ve always enjoyed pottering around the countryside on a horse, but yes, they are not the most predictable of animals sometimes. I’ve fallen off countless times, but not hurt myself, luckily.
Thanks for the hat-tip Araminta. There is Riding for the Disabled in Cyprus and I might just give it a go when I go back after this contract. It is not easy to work with the mentally handicapped and if you can get past the negative reaction – if you have it, that is, of course – working with such people is very rewarding, especially the children. It can also be a bit tough on the emotions also, of course, especially, again, with the children