Our after lunch speaker today will be a representitive of the Avon Riding Centre. 

It was founded by Stella Saywell, one of the first physiotherapists that were involved in therapeutic riding even before the formation of the Riding for the Disabled Association in 1969, and for over fifty years, Avon Centre has provided the positive experience and proven therapeutic benefits of horse riding to children and adults with a wide range of complex special needs. It is recognised as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for disabled riding regionally and throughout the UK. The Centre enables around 200 disabled children and adults per week to benefit from a carefully structured programme of riding sessions, amounting to 7,500 individual rides annually. They work with people living with over 30 different forms of difficulties: learning difficulties,  neurological conditions, sensory disabilities and those on the autistic spectrum. They range in age from 4 to 78.

Riding helps people with disabilities in many ways: simply sitting up straight on a horse provides physiotherapy and core strengthening exercise without the need to coordinate or understand complex movements. Improved core strength means better balance, improved mobility in everyday life.

Riding is so much more than just physiotherapy. Horses are natural animal therapists, with huge empathy; they also give their riders access to the outdoors and nature, in our beautiful woodland; the opportunity to learn a skill – and take part in sport – boosts resilience and confidence. All this in a friendly, accepting environment  and with the opportunity to make like-minded and often life-long friends.

Avon Riding School provides lessons for non-disabled riders age 7 and above. They have an indoor and outdoor school, a full set of show jumps and extensive hacking.  Group lessons have a maximum of 6 riders. We have a full size simulator to work on specific areas of improvement.