The History Of The Stables
Part 1
Early in 1995 Fieldways Resource Centre negotiated with the local council to
obtain a field which they owned in Barnet Lane. The proposal put forward was to
introduce a community based horse riding project fro adults with learning
disabilities. A fence was erected by members of staff to use as a work area for
grooming and tacking up the horses. The first horses to arrive on the project
were Daisy and Frolic followed by Toby.
Clients were encouraged to learn to ride the horses and to do
exercises on horseback which developed the muscles which they needed to use to
ride. Tack boxes were purchased for each horse and a full grooming set. The tack
boxes and grooming kit was colour coded for each horse which matched the colour
coded tag on the horse's bridle and saddle. This enabled clients to match the
grooming kit and tack to each horse. Clients were then matched to a specific
horse with which to work with in small groups. Each group became responsible for
the well being of their horse which involved catching the horse and bringing it
in to the work area, grooming the horse and picking its feet out, leading the
horse when it was being ridden, feeding the horse and returning it to the open
field.
The Manager and Deputy Manager were invited to visit a riding project for
learning disabilities in Dorset, during the visit they were offered a
porta-cabin provided that they could arrange transportation back to Barnet.
Transportation was arranged to bring the porta-cabin back in time before the
cold weather. This provided the project with the facilities for storage, toilet facilities,
cooking facilities provided by calor gas oven and an indoor training area. A
tack room was adapted to protect the tack from the weather conditions also
heating which was provided by two portable calor gas fires. This enabled members
of the project to remain on the project all day without having to return to the
centre for lunch. A daily tasks timetable was displayed on the wall for the
group to check daily. Horse rugs were introduced for the start of the winter
which added an extra task skill and a new horse named Nipper joined the project,
A volunteer named Christine also joined the project who had experience with
horses and became involved in teaching riding skills to the clients.
During the summer the clients were given the opportunity to work
with young horses when Cher, Pepsi and Saracen joined the project for the
summer. This enabled the group to become skilled with working with a variety of
horses and encouraged confidence building, skill sharing and teamwork. It became
commonplace for group members and horses to enjoy lunch break together outside
at the garden tables in an enjoyable social atmosphere. Cher made sure that
table manners were appropriate by removing any bags which were placed on the
tables onto the floor. The horses also made a habit of encouraging group members
to share their lunch with them.
People from the local community were invited to do some voluntary
work on the project and assist clients with routine tasks. This developed integration
between the clients and the local community. Routine tasks introduced involved
cleaning and filling the baths to provide clean drinking water, collection of
rubbish and general field maintenance, cleaning and oiling the tack to keep it
supple and collection of manure. These tasks developed social integration and
team building.
The
Stables Horse Activity Centre
