It is a sunny day. My team members and I are ready to welcome the kids from the disabled school. We are not stressed at all but very excited. After all, we were trained a lot, even simulating scenarios to ensure the kids could ride safely. We practiced safely protecting them during the right and reducing the risk of them falling off the horse. I am ready.
At 10:45, two little girls arrive. And it takes a team of six of us to welcome them. Before we take them for a ride, we bring them to our stable so they can interact with the ponies for the first time in their lives, just to make sure that they are not stressed about meeting a strange animal. On the first hand, we tell them to say hi to the ponies and to gently pat them. Then we give them a brush so that they can brush the ponies. After that, we are ready for their first ride! 

I am responsible for Xuan, one of the children. She’s a lively 10 year-old girl with Down syndrome. To an outsider, her behavior might seem impolite sometimes. But from our perspective, it is just a part of her condition and we understand that. When she first approached the pony to mount, our coach Debbie wanted to take her to the pony, reaching for her hand to guide her. But Xuan rejected, pulling away from Debbie and nearly shouting, “Don’t touch me!” Her aversion to physical contact was clear, and she expressed her feelings directly when upset, refusing to do anything when she didn’t feel like it, 

Thankfully, I wasn’t alone in handling these moments. My two side walkers helped me and the pressure was evenly shared. Teamwork is very important and shone through as we worked together to keep Xuan engaged and safe during the ride. When we worked together, I constantly reminded myself how unpredictable emotions can be, and how important it is for us to respond calmly. 

This is my first time approaching a kid with Down syndrome. Sitting on a horse is already a brave achievement for someone with her genetic condition. Whenever we are done with a small task, we praise her a lot and we make sure we celebrate every success.

Watching Xuan go from fearful to playful, it is clear that this program can make a difference. I am confident and excited to see whats' coming next.