Rider Profiles and Successes

Our riders range in age from 5 up to senior citizens and come from all walks of life. Here we let you know a little more about some of our riders and our riders let you know what riding means to them.

Emma Harris

I am in my twenties and have cerebral palsy, all of my four limbs and speech are affected. I am a permanent electric wheelchair user.

I have been riding at Barrow Farm for over 10 years and made some great progress. To start with I needed two side walkers all the time but now I am doing a lot of work off lead, and only have side walkers when we go out for a walk. I wanted to ride for as long as I can remember. Barrow Farm has given me that opportunity. Barrow Farm means so much to me.

Rebecca Rynor - tells us about what Barrow Farm means to her

Hi my name is Rebecca Rynor. I have cerebral palsy which mainly affects my balance. I walk with sticks, a frame or use a wheelchair. I ride on Saturdays and I look forward to going to Barrow Farm to see my friends and my favourite horses. I have learnt skills to do with horse riding for example, changes of rein, trotting, stable management, biology of the horse and how to control my horse. When the weather is sunny we go outside and sometimes go for a hack, (a walk outside in the woods). When the lessons get near to the end they go so quick and I don’t want it to finish.

Grade tests

The RDA run a series of grade tests for riders to take. This is a lovely way of recognising achievement; the riders receive a badge and certificate which they can proudly show to their family and friends.

Some of Barrow Farm riders have been taking their tests recently.

• Children from Chelmsford new Model Special School have achieved Grade 1 riding
• Children from Dycorts School have achieved Grade 1 riding and some grade 1 horse care as well and are pictured with examiner Amanda Shuckburgh, Essex County RDA Chairman.

Seeing the big smiles on their faces is what makes our work so rewarding and worth while.

Barrow Farm where Riding Develops Ability

During the summer holidays Saturday riders passed their Grade 3 riding and horse care. Hear is a riders report on her day.

"Hi, I am Becks Rynor this summer of 2008 I did Pony week in August on the Wednesday got the chance to do a Graded 3 test of Riding and Horse care.

All the morning we were all repairing for the exam in the afternoon. We were all at different grades I was put with a helper for the day Gemma I was having questions giving to me to practise on parts of the horse, tack, grooming kit and horse knowledge. We had a game which was quite fun.

As the morning went on I was getting quite nervous about the exam after lunch but I knew inside that I would be ok, is just I always seem to get nervous when something like that is coming up. After lunch the Examiner came up to Barrow Farm, she was called Joyce and was very nice. First of all I got to do the Exam on the Horse riding on Jack. I loved it because I forgot I was being examined just felt like a normal lesson which was really good. I was glad that we had the chance to show off what we were capable to do. I felt good afterwards that Joyce actually thought I did a good ride thanks Jack for giving me a good ride.

Here are Becks (middle front) and her riding friends receiving their certificates and badges from examiner Joyce.

We all had a relax moment, then were called in one by one to do the Horse Care test I went in to the tack room when it got to my turn. Joyce did it the questions how I liked because she asked me questions and I just had to go over and touch them."

When we were all done got told to go down to the car park area and sat in a circle outside the riding school. We all clapped when people went up when I got my grade 3 certificate and badge I felt so happy because I felt that I have improved so much since I first started I felt also that I achieved something.

At Barrow Farm Riding Delivers Achievement