Care is taken to provide facilities for people with all types of special needs.

Disabled Riders

Riders with various disabilities ride regularly from the New Forest riding centre. In many cases walkers lead the riders about the margin of the New Forest. Blind riders use the riding school, in which simple electronic detectors can provide useful sound signals of location.

Jody - with special needs

Jody is a special child with special needs. I am lucky to have had a strong, bright and healthy child. Jody was born normal but severely damaged by the MMR injection. As a result she need 24 hour care. At Applemore we are dedicated to helping all those with special needs, particularly children.

In these pictures the understanding and care between the children speaks for itself. I firmly believe that more advantaged children gain a lot from helping to bring a little happiness to children like Jody. In time Jody may accept wearing a riding hat, but for the time being we feel that the pleasure she gets from her ride outweighs the small risk of her riding without one.

.

We have many happy times with people of all ages with special needs. Thursday is our regular day for local riders. At the Special Olympics in Portsmouth in 1997 were able to give help to young people from West Lothian in Scotland. For them participating in the Equestrian Games seemed impossible as their finances did not stretch to transporting horses the length of the country. With sponsorship from some local businesses these delighted youngsters gained a gold and three bronze medals between them. It was a day which we will all treasure!

Children with Special Problems

I have had over 30 years of experience providing holidays for children who have had serious problems. Bereavement, terminal illness, rape, bullying, divorce, accidents and many other experiences can leave children deeply saddened or afraid. These events can happen suddenly to anyone and everyone from all works of life. A holiday here in the magical New Forest together with experiences of riding and dealing with horses is exciting to children. The challenge of horse riding fully occupies the mind!

Stephanie Berridge