Riding for the Disabled's IOM founder 'very proud' of 50 years

The 50th anniversary of the Isle of Man's Riding for the Disabled Association branch has made its last-remaining founder "very proud" of a "very exciting" moment.

Brenda Charlton moved to the island in 1972 after being involved with the charity in England.

After seeing a newspaper notice about a meeting to form a local group, she said "not knowing a soul, I went along". The group began riding in September 1976, initially with six ponies on loan.

Brenda said it had been special to be celebrating its golden anniversary, adding: "To see this succeeding here is very, very rewarding and very exciting."

The branch's early funds came from a woman at Laurel Bank, who sold bunches of snowdrops, and the sale of a pony for £200, Brenda said.

Brenda remembered how important the sessions were for the children taking part, with additional needs seen and treated differently half a century ago.

She said: "There were a lot of children who were incarcerated, we felt, and I knew the benefits of riding.

"They needed outings, they needed stimulation, they needed physical help."

Over the years, the organisation has moved venues and grown, and it is now based at the Guilgagh Stables in Andreas.

Brenda said the venue was "excellent" and, despite having retired, she described the group as "a family".

One memory, in particular, has stayed with her.

While out on a trek, she recalled a young rider sharing with her: "Brenda, when I'm up here nobody knows I'm different."

Brenda said: "I think that says it all."

Among those continuing to champion the charity is Riding for the Disabled Association ambassador Matthew Corlett, who began riding as a young child and returned to the sessions in late 2022 or early 2023.

Being named an ambassador in its 50th year was a special moment for him.

"It's probably one of my proudest moments ever," he said.

His mum, Anne, remembers how riding helped build Matthew's confidence, balance and strength.

"You can come here and you can just see them decompress as soon as they get on the horse," she said.

"I always say the 'power of the pony', they just absolutely know how amazing they are," she added.

In recent years, the charity has provided sessions through the island's schools.

Teachers Anne-Marie Rees and Jackie Wade have been taking children from Willaston school for years. They said they had seen confidence develop enormously.

"They're like different children when they get on the horse, aren't they? Their confidence just seems to grow," they said.

From Manor Park School, teacher Alistair Ledger recalled how his own son, Henry, who has autism and a developmental delay, would rarely talk about school.

But after the sessions, he came home "absolutely buzzing" and talking about the horse and his experience.

"He'd talk for 10 minutes uninterrupted when he got home just telling us all about the session and and for us that was amazing as a family," he said.

In his capacity as a teacher, he added that "each child got something different" from the sessions, and he had witnessed many children benefit from them.

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