Soul and Saddle
Student-led equine program supporting neurodiverse children in Shanghai
RDA Diary entry 2. 11/10
Today is a calmer day. The children came, seemingly feeling more comfortable, and their behavior is improving. I found out that Xuan is more responsive-her interaction with goldfish is becoming more natural. She's even eager to try new things, like standing on the stirrups, which was a big step for her as it requires a lot of balance.
I also learned a lesson: to manage the dynamics between the children and the horses. When Xuan was struggling to stand on the stirrups, she has to balance herself, and I have the responsibility to guide her along with the two side walkers. We help her get her footing while encouraging her to trust not only us but her own abilities, telling her she will not fall down. It is amazing how she's progressing, and I'm proud of her.
As part of our session, we practiced some of the simplest commands with horses. I demonstrated how to help the pony move by saying "walk" and "stop". Although these seem simple, they can build her confidence in interacting with the horse, building more trust between them two and fostering a sense of autonomy.
Reflecting on today, I think that working with kids with disabilities isn't always easy, and is often challenging. Every day I learn something new about the children, the ponies, and also my own capabilities!