What an amazing day I've just had. It was Tom's first day riding with the phenomenal organisation that it RDA. For a nominal price, Tom got a riding lesson from a teacher and helped by three volunteers. There are three other riders in his group including Jasmine who is in the same school and has Downs syndrome.
The loveliness started with a shared drive with Jasmine and her mum Sandra. Sandra is a mum after my own heart: sensitive and sensible in the face of a more difficult life than anyone anticipated. Jasmine is a couple of years older than Tom and small for her age. She is enjoying school, and working at her own pace. They will almost certainly both go to the same secondary school.
Tom and Jasmine hit it off straight away, chatting and giggling away in the back of the bus. I've never really seen Tom make friends like that, with someone who "speaks his language". by the time we got to the stables, they had already made plans to go to each others' houses!
Once there, Tom was so keen to meet JimBob that we had to get him a hat straight away. One of the volunteers, Ann, then took him to the school to meet the ponies. My little Tom was so keen that Jo the instructor called out: "Can we have JimBob please?"
Tom got on that pony as if he'd been riding all his life, and stunned all of us with the ease with which he did it. Everyone found it difficult to believe that he has never been anywhere near a horse before.
As ever, he charmed the pants off everyone. It was a wonderful experience to see him perched up there so straight, hands on the reins steering JimBob through the cones in a slalom... He even did a little bit of trotting, and is going to do some up and down trotting next week - Jo promised!!!
Three chocolate buttons, a drink and some colouring later, we packed the two chums back in the bus and drove back to school with even more elated chatter in the back. Look in the photos page for a little riding gallery!
The loveliness started with a shared drive with Jasmine and her mum Sandra. Sandra is a mum after my own heart: sensitive and sensible in the face of a more difficult life than anyone anticipated. Jasmine is a couple of years older than Tom and small for her age. She is enjoying school, and working at her own pace. They will almost certainly both go to the same secondary school.
Tom and Jasmine hit it off straight away, chatting and giggling away in the back of the bus. I've never really seen Tom make friends like that, with someone who "speaks his language". by the time we got to the stables, they had already made plans to go to each others' houses!
Once there, Tom was so keen to meet JimBob that we had to get him a hat straight away. One of the volunteers, Ann, then took him to the school to meet the ponies. My little Tom was so keen that Jo the instructor called out: "Can we have JimBob please?"
Tom got on that pony as if he'd been riding all his life, and stunned all of us with the ease with which he did it. Everyone found it difficult to believe that he has never been anywhere near a horse before.
As ever, he charmed the pants off everyone. It was a wonderful experience to see him perched up there so straight, hands on the reins steering JimBob through the cones in a slalom... He even did a little bit of trotting, and is going to do some up and down trotting next week - Jo promised!!!
Three chocolate buttons, a drink and some colouring later, we packed the two chums back in the bus and drove back to school with even more elated chatter in the back. Look in the photos page for a little riding gallery!
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