Young rider aims to change perceptions

A young horse rider is helping change people’s perceptions of Down Syndrome.

Lose the Label

Tabitha Penny is a typical pony-mad 11-year-old girl who dreams of owing her own horse one day. The only difference is she has Down Syndrome, a condition that affects around 60,000 people in the UK.

Tabitha refuses to let the condition define her, which is she why she decided to take part in the‘Lose the Label’campaign.According to her mum Lindy, the campaign sets out to “gently educate” the public about Down Syndrome.

“See the personfirst, not the label,” she says. “We want to change people’s perspective and for them to see their potential.”

Natural seat

Tabitha’s talents lie in horse riding, which she started at a young age, thanks to Lindy – who has ridden all her life.

“Once Tabitha was born we got her ‘on top’ as soon as possible and she loved it!” says Lindy. “I wasn’t at all nervous about it, I was as proud as could be and thrilled to bits.

“She has a beautiful, natural, deep seat and happily rides ponies of all shapes and sizes.”

Tabitha currently rides as part of her local Riding for the Disabled group (RDA) and has private lessons. She also enjoys competing and rode at the RDA regional dressage competition at Hickstead last year on a Welsh pony called Ivan.

Confidence boost

“Tabitha really adored Ben, who was the little white Welsh in the poster, but she has outgrown him,” Lindy explained. “ So Ivan is the new love of her life. He is endlessly patient with her. That’s not to say he’s not cheeky sometimes, but then the same applies to Tabitha!”

Riding isn’t just about gaining confidence in the saddle, it also helps boosts confidence in every day life. As Lindy explains, one of the problems children with special needs have is interacting and making friends – especially if they have a speech delay. But language is insignificant when riding.

“When she is with any animal, especially horses, they make no judgement of her,” Lindy said. “This gives her real freedom, which in turn relaxes her and gives her huge amounts of confidence.”

“Compared to most pre-teen children Tabitha has much less control over her life and the decisions in it, but when she’s riding she is in charge and she just loves it.”

Affinity with horses

Riding has also helped with her muscle tone and balance, plus she can travel longer distances and over terrain she would otherwise struggle with.

Such is her affinity with horses, Lindy hopes her daughter will be able to attend a residential full-time course at the Fortune Centre for Riding Therapy in the New Forest, when she is older.

“They turn out amazing riders and grooms, but also teach essential life skills to the students through caring for the horses,” Lindy said. “To be a student there would be amazing.”