A helping, heart-warming bond

MURRAY WILSON/Manawatu Standard

SADDLE UP: Brinty, the Welsh mountain pony, gets prepared for a disabled rider by RDA president, Margaret Bowler, with help from Manawatu Standard journalist Emma Goodwin.

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Time, patience, and a lot of care, are needed to train horses and ponies to take disabled riders. EMMA GOODWIN went to find out what it takes to build a strong bond between rider and horse.

Many able-bodied people are scared of horses and won't go near them, never mind ride them. So when children and adults who have special needs rush towards their mounts at Manawatu's Riding for the Disabled centre, it is clear that someone has got something right.

It took 25 years of fundraising to get the deposit to buy the land for the Manawatu Riding for the Disabled's six-hectare base in Feilding, and since then hundreds of riders have enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of one-on-one interaction with a horse.

The organisation was originally based in Palmerston North, but after grazing became an issue, a new venue was sought and found on Awahuri Rd.

The land was bought in 1997 and three years later the indoor arena was completed, thanks to donations and assistance from the public and Lions clubs.

Two of the key people in the organisation are Margaret and David Bowler, who joined as volunteers back in the 1970s and then in the early 1990s were asked to run the Manawatu branch.

The reason behind putting people with disabilities on horses is that it helps them gain strength, as well as develop social and educational skills. The disabilities include autism, cerebral palsy and blindness.

"The programme is designed to meet each rider's needs, be challenging and fun. It increases confidence, posture, flexibility, co-ordination, speech improvement and social contact," said Mrs Bowler.

"Up to 50 riders ride, once a week, during school term times and 23 volunteers help to run the programme throughout the year."

Eighty-five per cent of the riders come from Palmerston North, with the balance coming from Feilding and other outlying areas.

"Horses are a wonderful therapy, and the riders need to feel strong and happy."

Mrs Bowler says the warmth and movement of the horse during the ride helps the children improve their muscle tone, strength, balance and self-confidence.

"Physiotherapists, teachers, parents and caregivers have said that the service makes a real physical and intellectual difference to the riders," said Mrs Bowler.

This happiness is obvious when many of the young riders run to their mounts to enjoy the connection between horse and rider.

"We had one young blind girl here who was visiting from overseas for a few months who knew exactly how many paces it took to get from the gate to the horse and she would not let anyone help her get there."

There are seven ponies at RDA and all are well-suited for the task. As well, all volunteers receive extensive training in the various special needs of the riders.

"Many of the ponies have been through pony club and their owners offer them to us.

"We then rate them as to their suitability for various riders, and train them. We look at ponies of all shapes and sizes, but they can't be over 15 hands high."

Volunteers work a roster of seven days a week, year round, to care for the ponies, attend one of three disabled riding days a week in the school term, and help with leading the ponies beside the riders.

Fundraising is invaluable for ensuring the service continues and Mrs Bowler says volunteers are always sought to help out in any way they can.

- © Fairfax NZ News