Horses & disabled riders....

[Sarah6]

For my dissertation i would like to look into horses stress and behaviour in response to an able and disabled rider carrying out a walk, trot dressage test: how many of u find when a child or not so capable person deals with your horse, suddenly they are as good as gold!?
any ways wondered if any one was interested in this type of things and had any ideas or opinions on it!?
thanx

 

[spitchwick]

I used to be a disabled rider (long and boring story), so have loads of experience with regards to the regional and national dressage comps, and the horses, so if you want to pm me, feel free, I'd be glad to help.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I used to be Chair of our local RDA so have some experience as we used to use selected riding school horses. PM me if you have any qs x

 

[hussar]

I too was Chair of our local RDA and am still involved on a weekly basis. We use privately owned Icelandics. PM me if interested.

 

[yipster]

My sister is disabled and when ever she rode or handled my boy he acted like a well mannered lead rein pony. However with anyone else on board he'd be a complete loon. In fact he was given to me as he was considered too difficult and was heading for the meat man.....

Leading him out to the field was always…ahem...’interesting’... but as soon and my sister took hold of his lead rope he'd follow her around and always paused for her if she was struggling (she uses walking sticks).

Their relationship always amazed me and anyone else that witnessed it. I do truly believe horses (as well as other animals) have a kind of sense to when someone’s delicate or frail.

 

[MizElz]

I agree, Yipster - they really can tell. Ellie is so spooky normally, that I always have to have my wits about me - grass, trees, stones and puddles can all be monsters in disguise, according to her mood. Yet I once let my OH have a sit on her; he hasnt ridden since he was a child, when his mum used to take him RDA (he was born with a club foot, and was in and out of hospital until the age of 11). I gave him a leg up, and Ellie just stood there - no prancing around like she would with me - and when I walked her around the field, she was as quiet as anything. The same with my brother; the week we bought her, I let him sit on her ( he was 7, totally non-horsey) and she was an angel! Yet in her 'normal' form, she is the kind of horse who even my instructor is frightened to ride! It is strange; they can certainly sense something.

Excellent dissertation project, I for one would love to know how you get on with it!