Some ponies just know...

[RuthnMeg]

when they have a special needs child on board.
Our new pony Candy was ridden for the first time today, firstly by my daughter H (6) and then by my son M (4 in May). H is on the leadrein and we walked around the big field, walked through the old water jump, stopped to look at the ducks, had a trot up the hill and walked back. All was very good, Candy didn't do anything wrong, she is just a bit 'busy'. She is light on the lead rein, but obviously wants to do 'her' thing. H was happy for their first ride together. So then we swapped riders, and within 0.2 sec Candy had changed. She went all docile and quiet and allowed us to alter stirrup leathers and check girth without fidgeting one inch. You see, M has speech difficulties. He finds it hard to say the sounds of the begining of words, so for example iam not 'Mummy' but 'Ummy' and we live in a 'Owse' and own a 'lack' 'og' called 'bbee'!! (thats a House, and we own a Black Dog called Ebby - for all those who were curious!!)
So, M is now riding Candy. He starts talking, he says 'walk on' very well and gives a little kick (saddle flap kick here!). He then says 'Turn Candy' and we go where we should! After 2 mins he wants to go faster, so says 'Trot On Candy. another kick and we are off - shuffling trot, M is sitting up, heels down big smile. Iam holding on to the lead rope but doing nothing. After we finish, Candy returned to her slightly 'busy way' and M's speech is back to his normal ways.
Horses in general are such therepy, but they are incredible when they transform like this. Bearing in mind Candy only arrived on Saturday. It looks like Candy and M will have this unique bond that not everyone will understand.
Heres to Candy!!!

 

[Suzie86]

thats so lovely

sounds like they will be the perfect partnership!! you do get that a lot dont you i taught my exes 10 year old nephew to ride on my normally very lively silly pony, and he was as quiet and forgiving as you could imagine

 

[b0508]

What a lovely little story .My horse is just the same.When my lttle cousins came over from Australia 3 and 6 years old never been near a horse in their life and she was like a lamb.She couldn't of been better behaved if she tried.

 

[trundle]

My old share mare, Brooklyn, was like this. Most of the time she was nearly 17hh of scatty Irish TB, who could spook for England and liked tanking off across open fields. Put a little 5 year old girl on her back and she instantly transformed into a seaside donkey. She was a mad old mare, but she was SO careful and gentle around small children and nervous people.

Once my daughter was leading her across the yard, and Brook accidentally trod on the side of her welly boot. The boot came off and my daughter proceeded to hop up and down, and howl about the loss of her welly, while I was trying to get her to shut up, in case she scared the horse...The horse in question meanwhile was standing like a statue, with one foot up in the air just in case she accidentally trod on the small howling person. Good horse.

I hope that Candy and your little boy have an absolutely wonderful time together.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am a member of a local RDA group. The ponies used are mainly owned by a large farming family, who also run a riding school. These ponies have in their time; hunted, sj'd, xc'd, PC rallied, working huntered, and done a variety of other showing clases successfully over the weekend, then on Monday and Tuesday they have taken riders with a range of physical (mainly mobility) difficulties and learning difficulties on a 30 minute walk on local quite busy roads or on a lesson in an open field with cows and sheep not too far away. We have heard autistic children speak their first words, seen incredibly nervous riders develop confidence and seen individuals who rarely let their faces slip positively BEAM.
It sounds as though you have got a fabulous pony there.

 

[sueeltringham]

This has brought tears to my eyes as I know that feeling so well
My horse is sooo unpredictable with me, but when my autistic son is on his back, he's never put a foot wrong. My son loses all his inhibitions and clumsiness and becomes so quiet and balanced. I just need to find the 'right' pony for a leggy 8 year old now, but I worry that he won't have that 'relationship' that he has with my horse.
Riding is truly therapeutic.