Riding for the disabled

[lilymolly]

Hi

Wonder if you could help me.
I have a friend who is setting up a riding school for the disabled, and she wants to do everything correctly.

Can you give me some tips as to what a centre like this would need, what advice/tips you have.

Please be assured she has contacted various charities etc, but she want some advice from a parents perspective iyswim?

Any tips would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

[Woooozle100]

Hello. Does yr fiend know who she is targeting her centre at? eg what sort of disabilities? - would her aim be to to work predominantly with people with physical disabilities to help with gross motor skills or would she be looking to work with people with sensory impairments, learning difficulties, social / communication problems.. (I think riding can be a wonderful, theraputic activity promoting confidence and providing a great deal of benefits and enjoyment aside from all the physical benefits)

Your friend would really need to have a lot of knowledge, understanding and sensitivity about a wide range of disabilities in order for this to work. In all cases would she have the right amount of staff with specific professional training / experience of these areas - eg input from paediatric physios, input from portage / education people, etc etc. Its a really massive thing to set up - I think you would have need to have a background in working with special needs or find a partner for the venture who has.

Would the centre be primarilly a place for individuals to visit or a service for schools / hospitals / child development centres to use? Would it just be for children?

[lilymolly]

Hi I think it is all disabilitys,
she and her dh have worked with sn and she is a teacher, they have done EXTENSIVE research and have involved the correct authorities etc.
It will be a centre for kids and adults, and will also be a service for centres to use.

[mymatemax]

Sorry no helpful advice at all, but purely selfishly where is she as ds2 has been on the waiting list for 18months? There is just such a shortage.
Good luck I hope all goes well.

[lilymolly]

Bishop Auckland Durham

[mymatemax]

A little far to travel, we are in Suffolk

[gess]

If she googles Elizabeth Svenson Trust- she'll see it being done really well (with donkeys). Sensory room etc in the centre as well & outreach to local SN schools.

[Woooozle100]

My dd goes there - Elizabeth Svensden. Its fantastic. She goes weekly to a session run by a physio. They do all stuff like posting things in boxes and have various targets to work to. Sensory room is great.

We hired it out for her 2nd birthday party t'other week and it was ace!

They do a fabulous grotto at xmas as well.Was going to mention that earlier but think Ive been clocked at work for rsing about on mumsnet

[gess]

thanks for spelling correction I suspect I had it wrong. Ds1 goes with school- a new centre has opened near us, first session next Saturday.....

[gess]

suspected I mean!

[Fubsy]

Is this the one near ivybridge Gess?

Any good? ive a family in cornwall who have been to another one and are keen to go again.

Happy to recommend it if any good!

[wads]

my 6yo has been doing hippotherapy here in Portugal for acouple of years now & we have a brilliant instructor. She doesn't use a saddle, just a sheepskin rug - there is a special bit to hold on to & the sessions are with 3 adults, 1 leading horse & 1 either side. They do various simple games like arm movements, throwing rings, along with riding backwards, zig zag trotting etc & beacuse Ds has language delay his session involves giving horse all the commands. He has recently progressed to holding the reins!!!! Also he helps to take off the "saddle" at end of session to make him more responsible for the whole experience. It has been brilliant for him so good luck to your friend!