New to site :-)

[jemz]

Hi guys,
I'm new to this site and although I am an able bodied rider, I work for a Nationwide DeafBlind charity at their stables which are a pioneering project as it is different from the RDA as it is specifically for Deaf Blind adults. We have three horses and there is myself (the groom/instructor) and the project manager. We have been set up for just over a year now and have approximately 45 students a week visiting the yard for a mixture of riding and stable management sessions and tactile and environmental sessions. I was really pleased when I came across this section of the forum as it has inspired me and given me loads of ideas, so thank you!

[AengusOg]

Interesting concept, jemz.

I have had several experiences of the way horses behave around very young, and very vulnerable people.

One particular mare had been sent over to me from Ireland. A few days later I took her to visit some friends of mine who live in a special unit. Most of them are profoundly disabled, and several rely on mechanical means to get around.

That mare stood stock still while my friends manoevered around her. Although their movements were very different to what she was used to, she allowed herself to be touched all over, showing no fear at all.

When I related the story to her previous owner a few days later, she said I was very lucky to get away with that, as the mare had bolted from her handler last time she was walked out in hand (a fact she had kept quiet previously).

I was greatly moved by the behaviour of that mare. She knew how vulnerable these people were, and acted accordingly.

Some months later myself and the mare met another profoundly disabled chap who is known for his bad attitude and his frequent violent outbursts; the mare would not look at him, nor would she stand still all the time he was there.

I would very much like to hear of your experiences with your clientelle and horses.

[fjordlady]

Your work sounds hugely rewarding.
Without sounding patronising I really wish to acknowledge what determination it must take for someone who cannot see or hear to get up and learn to ride!
Puts my nervous nellie moments to shame.
I can imagine the tactile and smells of the environment would be really stimulating.
Oh and big welcome to the forum - look forward to reading more :)

[chickyd444]

hello jemz and welcome :)

[flintybaby]

Welcome! The work you do sounds amazing and really rewarding!

Look forward to hearing more from you!

[Bertie]

Welcome, what amazing work your doing, the project sounds very exciting keep us all updated on how things go with your horses and your students.

[Abserd]

Hello and welcome to NR - it's very addictive!!

So do you work for Sense? Just being nosey :D

[jemz]

Hello and welcome to NR - it's very addictive!!

So do you work for Sense? Just being nosey :D

Thanks for all the messages.

Yes I do work for SENSE.
Its a very worthwhile and fulfilling job, and with respect to these students that have such impairments and often physical difficulties, its very humbling and fantastic to see them with the horses and in the case of some of the guys, seeing them ride.

We've been very lucky with our horses, our little one, is only used for a few riders (she's a stocky 13.2hh) but does most of the tactile work and loves nothing more than standing on the yard with her head in a wheelchair users lap! The other two we have are equally as fab, altho they are not used for the wheelchair users usually as they are 15hh and 16.2hh so its a bit harder for the students that are wheelchair bound to be able to get close to them etc. but they are fab for grooming sessions and of course riding, especially when you take into account that none of our horses have ever been around disabled etc people or even in a riding school! Its all been through hard work and lots of praise that the horses have become like this, and of course their wonderful trusting natures!

As for putting our own nerves and silly moments into perspective, it certainly does for me! Especially when you see a completely blind student riding walk/halt transitions and changes of rein unaided! :-)

[Abserd]

That's brilliant! I work for a Disability helpline which is how i know about SENSE, i also volunteer for the RDA. Tbh, i also feel horses are better than counselling for me!! They are just wonderful 'people'!! I'm impressed that SENSE have got their own stables, that's such a great idea. A lot of the kids and adults i help with have learning disabilities or physical, it must be quite different to teach someone with sensory impairments. We did have a little boy who was blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other so we had to modify sidewalking etc. to improve his lesson. We also had a go riding ourselves with our eyes closed to learn how it feels when you can't
anticipate where you are going to turn and how important your balance is. It was really interesting. Your work sounds great and i look forward hearing more about it!

[jemz]

Its the first stables set up by SENSE, and with it being for people with sensory impairments it is quite a pioneering set up, as its set apart from the RDA. I think the general plan is that if the stables turn out to be economical then other areas of SENSE will then set up their own yards (I work for SENSE East) which would be great, as although the RDA runs a fantastic set up and normal RS' do a great job, it is so good for the students to be able to do the things that other yards aren't able to offer. My project manager often makes me ride with my eyes closed and I hate it so I really am so proud to see my students coping with riding and stable management so well! Currently we have students that range in age from 19 to 55 and each of them are so different which makes every day interesting!

[Abserd]

Yep sounds really interesting, such a good concept. I'd certainly help out if there's ever a SENSE stables set up around here!! (WestYorks)

[Miriam]

Wow jemz that is strange. I was watching an advert for Andrea Bocelli and he was riding along a beach and wondered if there was anywhere where they could learn.

Welcome to the site

[jemz]

:) Really pleased with one of my students yesterday, he's a chap with no hearing and limited but useful vision and has learning difficulties so you never know if he understands what you are signing to him, but i helped him put the head collar on the pony and he then led her in from the paddock, instead of tying her up on the yard as i had asked, he took her into her stable and tied her up in there on the tying up ring, unaided, and proceeded to take her rug off, once he'd taken it off (I hadn't told him to but we had just changed one of the other horse's rug) he went and hung it up and put the stable rug on! Its funny cos I know members of staff that cant manage that without being told to do it! So pleased with him :-) really made not only my day but my week as it was my last session with students til after xmas now!

[jemz]

Yep sounds really interesting, such a good concept. I'd certainly help out if there's ever a SENSE stables set up around here!! (WestYorks)

If I hear anything that sounds like they may be setting one up, I'll let you know! Its brill work!

[Abserd]

Fab! thanks :) Although, i can only fingerspell in BSL and not very well at that lol

Great news about the chap you mentioned, it's such a buzz when something like that happens. When i was helping this man with learning disabilities and no speech, when he smiled or took your hand, it was such a good feeling as you realised that what you were doing or saying was having an effect. Good stuff.

[jemz]

Fab! thanks :) Although, i can only fingerspell in BSL and not very well at that lol

Great news about the chap you mentioned, it's such a buzz when something like that happens. When i was helping this man with learning disabilities and no speech, when he smiled or took your hand, it was such a good feeling as you realised that what you were doing or saying was having an effect. Good stuff.

It is a fab feeling isnt it?!
Sorry to say this but sense dont use bsl alpahbet, a lot of the students use BSL but mainly sign supported english and for alpahbet they use DeafBlind manual, its pretty similar but it all has to be signed hand on hand for those that are blind (obviously not for those that arent but they still tend to use DBM) so things like C instead of making a C shape, you trace with your index finger onto the other hand from the thumb round to your first finger tip, if that makes sense?! lol! Anyways, I knew AEIOU when i started and now i can just about hold my own in a simple conversation, as long as its either about horses or sausage and chips! lol!

[Abserd]

yeah i did think about that as i typed it :eek:! i understand the concept of sign supported english (is that like Makaton?) and the DeafBlind signing but i've never done any. I always remember reading all about Helen Keller when i was younger and thinking how amazing that was. I've just been tracing C's on my hand!!

[jemz]

lol! Its similar to makaton, makaton is very simple and usually used by children. If you go onto http://www.sense.org.uk/deafblindness/communication/ there is a load about it, the chap at the top of the page is one of my students :-)

[Abserd]

thanks for that, very interesting!

[jemz]

Thought I'd post the photo we took for xmas cards, on the left if Digby, my baby, then me, Jupe, the littlest and naughtiest, then my boss, then Meg, the grumpy one :-)

[horse_converted]

Hello and welcome to nr! It sounds like a great thing you are doing thee. I am visually inppaired. I ride at my local RDA as well have a private lesson too. i am lucky my instructors are really good. they know how to explain everything to.

[Miriam]

Fab! thanks :) Although, i can only fingerspell in BSL and not very well at that lol

Great news about the chap you mentioned, it's such a buzz when something like that happens. When i was helping this man with learning disabilities and no speech, when he smiled or took your hand, it was such a good feeling as you realised that what you were doing or saying was having an effect. Good stuff.

If you ever get the chance of learning BSL go for it. I've done a basic course (should have come out with a certificate but 4weeks before the exam we were told we could not do it as they had changed the course and the College had not informed the outreach college. We should have been learning the deaf and blind sign language too in order to do the exam) and would have loved to have gone further. It's something I've always wanted to learn ever since watching my mums cousin on look north (I think it was) signing the news. We used to drive the other classes crazy when learning songs. Even had the good excuse when the class next door were doing First Aid and shouting for help that we could not hear them :P

Touched on Makaton too when doing Children with Specific Needs Course

Jemz thanks for that site too I'll have great fun reading it

[Abserd]

Thought I'd post the photo we took for xmas cards, on the left if Digby, my baby, then me, Jupe, the littlest and naughtiest, then my boss, then Meg, the grumpy one :-)

:D Love that pic!

[jemz]

It was such a funny day, it took me twenty mins to get digby to let me put the tinsel and antlers on him, he was petrified, which is so daft as he puts up with so much movement and noise both on the ground and whilst being ridden from the students! Bless him! (Hence him not pulling the nicest face!)

[jemz]

Students are all back now, so will give updates soon! bit of a boring week, just grooming, filling haynets and making feeds this week, ease all parties (mainly the ponies!) back into it quietly!

Did have 3 students decide to 'ride' "Troy" our wooden horse today, think it was to try to persuade me to let them ride today! Troy is designed for them to sit on but they were sitting on and attempting rising trot on this lump of wood! Bless them!

[KAB]

Hello and welcome to NR I am sure you will find the site extremely addictive!

What a wonderful, interesting and rewarding job you have!!

I really do admire people like yourself who have jobs like this. For many years I have been saying I would love to do some voluntary work but with a full time job and a family, I have found it extremely difficult to put some time aside. I will one day in the future, I am sure of that!

Please Keep us updated as I find it extremely interesting! You could set yourself a blog up for us all to view! :)