RDA, advice?

[ifandbutwhynot]

Okay so this is kind of less horse related and more rider related, but I volunteer at my local RDA...

There's this one little lad who comes and rides each term, Ryan, who's 14, and he's selectively mute and in a wheelchair. He's lovely, but he's been riding for the best part of two years now and he's not making a lot of progress.

I walk with him every week in typical RDA style (I won't lie, I love him to pieces, he's a great lad) but he's really quite clingy, he likes to grab hold of people, be it hair or hood, and throw things at you if you ask him to join in. One thing I have noticed though is he's becoming less clingy and more happy to hold onto the saddle, though he won't grab the reins, and he likes to laugh at me (to cut a long story short, I tripped over a while back and since then he's found a cause to laugh at me every week)...

He still won't interact with anyone else at all though, not even his parents. Anyone have any ideas on how I can help him keep progressing?

And any more RDA volunteers out there? <3

 

[Highlands]

Think its great that he even interacts with you! Just let him keep laughing, he is mute for a reason.... Does he interact with the horses?

As for progress , I would not worry he does it for enjoyment. His progress is not easy to measure and certainly not against normal standards. Since his behaviour is modified on a horse this is great progress. Can't be easy to be

A) mute
B) teenager
C) have whatever baggage

Just keep him laughing !

 

[Ella19]

Sounds odd but a few children and adults don't like the feel of reins. Try covering his reins with pipe lagging, they grey foam type and see if he will hold that, worked wonders for a boy I worked with a few years ago.

 

[ifandbutwhynot]

Think its great that he even interacts with you! Just let him keep laughing, he is mute for a reason.... Does he interact with the horses?

As for progress , I would not worry he does it for enjoyment. His progress is not easy to measure and certainly not against normal standards. Since his behaviour is modified on a horse this is great progress. Can't be easy to be

A) mute
B) teenager
C) have whatever baggage

Just keep him laughing !

Thanks. He doesn't really interact with the horses, but at least he's happy riding. Hopefully it'll come with more time then <3

 

[ifandbutwhynot]

Sounds odd but a few children and adults don't like the feel of reins. Try covering his reins with pipe lagging, they grey foam type and see if he will hold that, worked wonders for a boy I worked with a few years ago.

Thanks, will try that and see if he feels like holding the reins. He seems more at ease when he's got something to hold anyway