Cheryl and Sarah, from our Alnwick residential home for adults with learning disabilities, may not be horse whisperers, but their fortnightly riding lessons certainly seem to encourage a lot of chat.
Activities Co-ordinator, Gwen Simms, who organises the trips to Swinhoe Riding School in Belford, says, “The horse riding for Cheryl has really boosted her confidence and self-esteem. When she is out in the community she is very reserved and doesn’t like talking to people, but she talks to her instructor throughout her lesson.”
Sarah is also finding the lessons beneficial and has developed a real affection for the horses.
“She is always smiling when she rides past me,” says Gwen, “and when she gets in the car she says ‘Gwen, I have really enjoyed that – I’m going to tell my mam’.”
As well as the Swinhoe Riding School, some of our residents also enjoy visiting the local Pegasus Centre in Morpeth, which is run by the Riding for the Disabled Association. Whichever school they choose, everyone is benefitting from that “animal magnetism”.