Riding for the disabled

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Joya

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Hi, I haven't posted in here for a long time!
I'm currently training to be a special needs teacher and am doing an assignment at the moment looking at the sorts of resources out there for children with special needs, specifically downs syndrome. I thought it would be interesting to look at things that are/can be used at the RDA as riding can be so beneficial to children with special needs.
I tried to volunteer at the RDA when I was doing my A levels but they didn't need anyone at the time so haven't been able to see first hand if they use any specific equipment or tack to support the children. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this? The things I was thinking of were things like more supportive saddles, specific things the rider can wear, different fixtures on reins and neck straps? I don't even know if these things exist and if they do whether they were widely used.
I'd really appreciate it if anyone could let me know if they have ever seen these things in use and any information at all on things like this. Thanks very much!
 
Joya said:
Hi, I haven't posted in here for a long time!
I'm currently training to be a special needs teacher and am doing an assignment at the moment looking at the sorts of resources out there for children with special needs, specifically downs syndrome. I thought it would be interesting to look at things that are/can be used at the RDA as riding can be so beneficial to children with special needs.
I tried to volunteer at the RDA when I was doing my A levels but they didn't need anyone at the time so haven't been able to see first hand if they use any specific equipment or tack to support the children. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this? The things I was thinking of were things like more supportive saddles, specific things the rider can wear, different fixtures on reins and neck straps? I don't even know if these things exist and if they do whether they were widely used.
I'd really appreciate it if anyone could let me know if they have ever seen these things in use and any information at all on things like this. Thanks very much!
Click to expand...

Lots of things! Some riders will start with one set up and it may well steadily change as the riders needs change - perhaps they become more balanced or have more difficult times.

All the ponies as standard have bent iron stirrups with stirrup cages (diff sizes of each depending on the size of the persons foot), std gp saddles, balance straps, snaffle bridles, no nosebands and the stripey kind of rubber reins (useful to be able to suggest holding the red bit rather than getting bogged down in the right length!).

The saddles might be used without stirrups, with the addition of a sheepskin, no saddle at all and sheepskins with a surcingle holding them on, a rider might be fitted with a wide belt with a couple of handles that the side walkers can use if needed to support the rider, some riders get on better with no reins (nervous riders can get grabby and some really relax if allowed to simply sit there and enjoy the ride!), we also have ladder reins or a breastplate type thing that can be used.

I guess those things support the rider physically, on a learning level though we have lots of games, bean bags, beanybabies to pick up from various points around the school, the school letters have a cartoon painted on them too (an apple for a for example). Lots of games and plans done around those! We also have grandmas foot steps and fast or slow walk reins - often in teams with you cheering on your own team (side walkers and leaders included!). Coloured poles on the ground to walk over or around too.
Hope that helps and makes some kind of sense! Let me know if I can help make any of it more clear as I do tend to waffle!
 
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Brilliant, thanks for that! Do you have any more information on these things or any idea of where they can be bought from?
On a side note, I've just phoned my local RDA down here at uni to see if they need any volunteers and left an answerphone message!
 
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