On Monday May 7, Hoof Club, part of Rein and Shine equestrian centre in North Wiltshire, ran a free equine-assisted learning day for autistic children in support of the National Autistic Society (NAS). The day also raised more than £600 in net proceeds to be donated directly to NAS.
Forty-five children on the autistic spectrum attended the free day to experience the many benefits equine-assisted learning has to offer. Each child experienced 45-minutes of horse riding and 45-minutes of grooming which included learning about welfare and safety. At the end of their sessions the children were delighted to receive a free rosette. This unique opportunity, which was booked via the children’s schools, proved to be very therapeutic and educational and the number of smiles seen at the end of the day reflected one of the many benefits equine therapy and learning has to offer. Feedback was nothing but positive from parents and teachers alike, many of them planning on returning to Rein and Shine having seen the valuable impact it had on the children.
“The day was even more successful than we could have imagined,” said Johanna McDonald, who owns and runs Rein & Shine with husband John McDonald. “Children with autism can hugely benefit from horses. We wanted to give them a chance to experience this whilst we raised money for a worthwhile cause at the same time. It takes a lot of work and resources to run a day like this and seeing the children enjoying the benefits makes it all worthwhile. We hope to see lots of the children return to Rein and Shine so we can help them in the future.”
If you have or know of a child educated in Swindon or North Wiltshire area that would benefit from one of Rein & Shine’s existing programmes for children with autism or special needs, you should contact their school directly and ask them to get in touch with Rein & Shine: 01666 860068 | [email protected]
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