Riding For the Disabled (Hippotherapy)

By Gayleen Mackereth - Published in Horse and Pony 2007

“Could I try a trot? Do you think I could try a trot?”
My voice pleaded on the last day of the term. The chief Instructor was mounted, trying out a new horse, and I saw my chance to try a trot behind her mount.
“We’ll have to ask the Physio about that,” came the reply-and the Leader ran few steps get my horse to break into a few steps of trot as surprised, the sidewalkers ran alongside.

But dreams are free!

My upper body just didn’t do what it used to and I flopped all over the place and my legs turned to jelly and would not cooperate in any way at all, instead of the vision I had had! Oh well!

Gayleen riding Klyde

“That’s Ok-just keep trying and do lots of knee bends holding the gym rails every single day during the holidays to strengthen your Quads (Translation =Thighs),” advised our Physio.

Two years ago riding my own horse for pleasure, how would I have dreamt that I would be here today? Who pays these people who are so willing to help me? The Government? ACC? NO! Firstly there is the qualified Physio who gives her time freely assessing every persons needs and planning their rehabilitation programme then the Chief Instructor who works with us planning out our lessons and the best way to strengthen our bodies and minds, plus three willing helpers per horse who manage to slot in six to eight hours of help per week just to give hope to so many of us, UNPAID! They are part of a group of enthusiasts who are little known by mainstream Pony Club people and riders in general. They work for a sense of joy at seeing the progress which can be made in their charges by hippotherapy.
THEY ARE THE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED PEOPLE.
For most people it takes a serious accident in a high profile rider such as Catriona Williams to draw people’s attention to what happens after a person is injured. Most of us riding cross country never give a thought that one day we may need RDA after an accident or that some disabled child we know may even be able to ride a horse too.

As for myself, I became a so-called “partial tetraplegic” after being knocked of my bike on a quiet side road while cycling to work eighteen months ago. Intensive care followed by five weeks in hospital unable to move even a toe, then three months in the Spinal Unit, for rehabilitation while I slowly regained the use of my upper body and to a certain extent my legs, led me to beg for a chance to go to RDA. I felt a tight band round my body and I felt that riding would the only thing to help my numb legs and stiff hips and floppy trunk.
At first I tired so easily and found trying to support my upper body by itself exhausting, but each time I attended I felt an improvement and the relief from pain that came each time after riding (endomorphins???) was the best drug I could take!

At our Club, Totara Park, I am allotted the Monday ride with a group with multiple disabilities, mainly because, as an adult, the heaviest horse, Klyde the part Clydesdale, is available to me at that time.
Since I began eight months ago I have watched some of these children go from almost foetal position in their wheelchairs to lying across the horse, to sitting sideways on the horse with support, to sitting up properly, all still assisted by sidewalkers, of course. The improvement is miraculous.

Hippotherapy has a strong scientific base and utilises the movement of the horse and the corresponding human movement to advance and rehabilitate. All those involved undergo training as helpers and NZQA provides recognized qualifications for those willing to advance beyond the basic steps.

RDA caters for riders who have a wide range of disabilities including visual and physical and also social and behavioural. Each type of disability is fully assessed and a unique programme worked out. What is more, you don’t have to have experience with horses to become a volunteer.

And we don’t lack credibility. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne the Patron of RDA, came from England to the Auckland RDA combined ribbon day last year in July and presented the winning ribbons to the huge delight of the children judging from the glowing faces of all who participated.

So if you are like horses and kids or if you are a rider yourself and if you have ever thought in the back corners of your mind that perhaps one day you might give something back.

Come on and put down your name to help us NOW!

By Gayleen Mackereth

Learn More:

Why not take a look at these sites?
www.totaraparkrda.org.nz

www.catwalk.org.nz (Catriona Williams )

“My first Ride” Podcast. http://jumac.podomatic.com by Gayleen

Have you read “One Stroppy Jockey” the story of Christine Lawn?