by Julie Blackburn

Carriage driving gives those who are unable to mount a horse the opportunity to experience the enjoyment of equestrian activities.

It’s also tremendous fun, as I found out when I was invited to have a go.

Manx Carriage Driving4Disabled, which operates from Ballavartyn Equestrian Centre in Santon, has around 30 clients of all ages on its books, as Martin Sewell from the charity explains:

’The youngest is five and the oldest is 70 but we did once have a 99-year-old coming.

’Carriage driving can offer a rewarding experience for people with a wider range of conditions than riding, including those who are wheelchair users.

’Our general philosophy is to give competence, confidence and a sense of contribution to our clients.

’You can see it on their faces and in their gestures and, from the feedback we get from parents and carers, they see an improvement.

’It offers a challenging experience within a very safe environment.’

The group, part of national charity Riding for the Disabled, owns two horses, Stevie and Stewie, and also has Teddy on loan to pull their three carriages.

Volunteers undertake the daily exercising of the ponies and with keeping the carriages and harnesses clean and well maintained.

Thanks to their hard work, all three horses are immaculately groomed and the harness and cariages polished to a shine.

One client, Amy Kaighin, recently went away to compete in Yorksire and won a rosette. She tells me:

’My favourite part of carriage driving is getting the steering right and focussing on the horse and going round the cones.’

I discover exactly what she means when I climb aboard one of the carriages to have a go with coach Steph Bateson.

The carriages are articulated, making them surprisingly manoeverable and Teddy obligingly responds to signals on the reins as he takes us in and out of the cones.

It is, it has to be said, serious fun.

Manx Carriage Driving4Disabled has another carriage on order which will take heavier people and is wheelchair accessible.

Its £10,000 costs will be part funded by the Manx Lottery Trust along with other supporters.

The group hopes to expand and offer more people the chance to enjoy carriage driving but this is dependent upon recruiting more volunteers.

Martin says: ’We are always grateful for new volunteers.

’It takes a particular type of person with the dedication and the time to give three Fridays and one Sunday a month for the charity.

’Our enthusiasm and our ability to grow depends on our having more volunteers.’

â?¢ If you are interested in becoming a volunteer you can find out more by contacting group organiser Liz Lillie on 322431.