Pony gives bed-ridden teenager new lease of life

A teenager with a rare disease has made ‘miraculous’ progress, thanks to a sweet pony called Ruby.

Lease of life

Martha Buchanan has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which causes a range of symptoms including joint pain, weak muscles and fatigue.

The condition left the 13-year-old confined to her bed, until she gained an interest in horses through her aunt, Carrie.

Carrie Buchanan, who is a BHS instructor and has her own yard nearby in Banwell, Weston-Super-Mare, bought a pony for Martha, which has given her a new lease of life.

Miraculous progress

In April of this year, Martha was well enough to go to the stables and groom Ruby from her wheelchair. By May she was able to visit on crutches and in June she sat on the liver chestnut mare for the first time.

Martha can now ride around the school in walk and trot on her own. Doctors claim her progress is miraculous and that they have never seen such an improvement in such a short space of time.

BHS 12,000th member

With her aunty’s encouragment the teenager has since joined theBritish Horse Society, becomingthe 12,000thmember of the south west region.

To make the occasion regional chairman, Jennifer Ham and BHS Avon chairman Sue Rich met Martha to present her with a certificate, polo shirt and new grooming equipment and lead rope for Ruby.

Martha plans to carry on riding and hopes to join the Pony Club and do some showing with Ruby.