STUDENTS of the Ebenezer School for the Blind's Training Centre are learning to ride with the recent opening of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) office.
The eight riders range from seven to 12 years of age and so far have had five riding lessons. Two of the riders are partially sighted while the remaining are totally blind.
Initially, progress with blind riders can be slow but once basic guidelines are established, they can make the same progress as any sighted rider.
Orientation designed for the blind riders includes an introduction to the ponies by touching, an explanation of the saddlery and other equipment used and an exploration on foot of the area where the riding sessions are to take place.
Organised riding for the disabled started from small beginnings in 1901, but the movement has grown beyond the wildest expectations of the group of British enthusiasts who developed it to its modern form in the late 50's. They drew inspiration from Mme. Liz Hartel, a Danish polio victim who, through dogged determination and willpower, won the Silver Medal for Dressage in the 1952 Olympics.
It is now a world-wide movement which aims to improve the mental and physical well-being of disabled people by teaching them to ride to the best of their ability.
