Connie's Story

Three year old Connie attends the Centre here at Sidmouth with her parents, grandparents and sister, Hebe, for our once a month Saturday Club and for drop-in sessions during the school holidays, making it a real family occasion.

Connie's parents started bringing her for riding therapy following a recommendation from her physiotherapist. Connie who has moderate quadriplegic cerebral palsy with global developmental delay has a problem with walking and sitting and her physiotherapist suggested that riding above anything else would help strengthen her pelvis.

Connie used to be terrified of not only anything big or soft, but of animals.  Now, however, she really loves the donkeys and looks forward to riding.

Connie's Mum, Lucy, says "because of Connie's disability we are in a world with lots of things we can't do, we love coming to EST, it's something we can do and that's great for Connie, for us and for her sister. It is such a safe environment too, both physically and emotionally".