Horse riding gives Charlie a chance to grow

From palliative care as a newborn to riding horses as a 6-year-old, Charlie sure is motivated.

By Melanie Louden

For Charlie, who lives with Cerebral Palsy, going to RDA each week does more than fuel his love of ponies and horses.

Riding for the Disabled (commonly known as RDA) has taught him balance, coordination, to listen to instructions, to use his words and give instructions.

Charlie attends the Auckland Central RDA at Meadowbank Pony Club and “absolutely loves it”. 

“He’s always so excited to see the horses,” says mum Esther. 

“And there’s no fear. He’s a little boy but when he sits on a horse you can just sense that ‘I’m one with this horse’. He’s learnt so much. He’s always smiling there. There’s something about him and the horses,” Esther says. “The sunshine beams out of him.” 

Esther says when Charlie, 6, first sat on a horse, he was really floppy. He couldn’t keep his head up much and he needed lots of holding.

“But it’s like he’s grown up. Horse riding has really facilitated his development.”

She says RDA isn’t about riding around a ring.

“It’s about confidence, being on a horse, keeping your balance, being able to listen to instructions, it’s about being able to do different tasks while being on a horse and feeling what the horse is doing and giving the horse instructions.

“I think he learnt to speak there. He’s always been very motivated to communicate but I think he really started using his words with the horses. He’s learning and its fun at the same time.”

Esther, who also has two teenage sons, says having a child with additional needs is a “new experience and I never realised how lonely it can be”.

“But what RDA means for me is that sense of care and support that the volunteers provide. Every time I go there, I get the sense that they are really mindful of some of our struggles.”

“For me it’s a bit of a breathing space – I can go and enjoy watching Charlie and at the same time not have to worry or watch out for him all the time.”

Two days after Charlie was born, he had a medical injury. He was hypo glycemic but it was not picked up. 

“By the time they did something about it and called for an ambulance he’d suffered a cardiac arrest, seizures and almost died. He had to be resuscitated twice.”

An MRI when he was 5 days old revealed the extent of the brain damage.

“He was continuing to have seizures so they thought he wasn’t going to make it. He was placed on palliative care.

“We never ever thought he would be able to see, talk, sit up.” 

Charlie clearly had other ideas and the family are now raising a young lad who is “pathologically sunny – he is a happy boy”. 

“He is the most motivated person. He uses a walker and he walks home from school. He has lots of friends. People want to walk home with him.”

Esther says her and her husband, Antony, are extremely grateful to the “amazing” volunteers who make RDA sessions happen.

“We as a family are so appreciative of that. They are absolute unsung heroes.”

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* NZRDA has groups across the country, and it’s core purpose is to provide interaction with horses to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people experiencing disability, or who have specific challenges or needs. 

RDA provides therapeutic horse riding as part of a goal-based program. Relevant goals are set for riders around educational, cognitive, physical and social skills. As well as specific physical strength and balance benefits, riders participate in group activities that help them gain self-efficacy, self-esteem and confidence.

For more information go to www.rda.org.nz.