“I realised my cheeks were hurting because I was beaming too.”

Mum of 6 year-old Monty, Natasha, struggled to find activities that were compatible with Monty’s needs as an autistic, pre-verbal child. When she found Park Lane Stables, her hopes of finally having found something he would enjoy were slim, and the drive to the yard was long…

Read their story as told by Natasha herself:

“Monty is my 6 year old, beautiful boy, who is calm, gentle and loves being outdoors. He is autistic and pre-verbal so he struggles a lot with environments that are busy, loud, restrictive and unpredictable. This means that finding places to take Monty after school or on the weekends where he can have fun and explore in a safe and stimulating way is quite difficult.

Beyond walks in the park (which are not always ideal in the winter) it is a constant struggle to find activities that he enjoys and don’t end up in sensory overload or frustrated tears after being held back from doing things in the way that he wants to do them, as opposed to the safe, conventional way.

Monty also has low muscle tone, which in his case means that his posture and balance are affected and he can be resistant to physical activity, which is exactly what he needs to be doing to get strong.

Like most autistic children, Monty thrives on routine and familiarity because it helps him to make sense of his world and know what to expect. I was determined to find a weekly activity for Monty that he could enjoy, look forward to and develop, even though this felt like it didn’t exist.

Horse-riding was an interesting option, as it was outdoors, removed from crowds and chaos and I knew that under the right circumstances, animals could be very therapeutic for children with special needs. I started doing some research and came across Park Lane Stables. I couldn’t believe that there was a horse-riding association that not only accepted children with special needs, but was wholly focussed on helping them.

Despite this, I still wasn’t sure whether it would be right for Monty. He had never shown any interest in animals and he hates wearing hats, so those two things alone may have proven to be an issue. The stables were also an hour’s drive for us, which seemed rather far. I decided to ignore my feelings of doubt (due to all other attempted activities ending the same way…) and got in touch with Natalie to arrange an assessment.

Everything that happened surprised me

We arrived at Park Lane and walked through the gates. There was a beautiful grey horse, who we now know as Prodney, strolling around – who Monty walked past and took no notice of – he then ran through some small puddles with glee and was greeted by Natalie who had the kindest face and warmest smile. I knew at that moment that we had found somewhere special.

Everything that happened after that surprised and amazed me. Monty happily wore his little riding hat and followed Natalie up the green steps. He was so eager to mount a horse it was a delight to see. Trigger was the first horse that Monty rode, and he took to it like a fish to water. Everything made him happy, from the softness of Trigger’s mane to the clip clop sounds his hooves made. Monty leaned into the rhythmic movement and the smile on his face said it all. I realised my cheeks were hurting because I was beaming too. We had found the perfect activity for Monty. Though it was so much more than that. The magic of Park Lane isn’t just the horses. It is also the people. And Monty’s favourite person is Natalie. He liked her from the moment he met her and their relationship is beautiful to see. He is so comfortable and affectionate with her and she is so warm and encouraging with him.

Weekly improvements

Every week Monty goes to Park Lane, I see noticeable improvement and development. He is strengthening his core muscles and sitting straighter. He keeps his feet in the stirrups and adjusts himself with his left leg when his body slides over. Natalie needed to adjust his seat at least 10 times every ride in the beginning and now that is halved and he does it independently.

He responds to Natalie’s ‘stop’ and ‘go’ prompting and questions of direction. Monty just loves her positive energy and joyful singing. Seeing him so happy having so much fun, as well as such positive physical development and social interaction with the humans and horses is the highlight of my week.

Monty said ‘horse’ in the car on the way to his lesson last week. The journey doesn’t feel that long at all anymore because we know what we are driving to. And now when we see lovely Prodney at the gate, Monty doesn’t ignore him, he tickles his tummy and then runs happily towards the stables.”

Our team at Park Lane Stables is mostly made up of volunteers who give their time to make a difference in the lives of children like Monty and their families. To support our work, visit our Donate page. Every pound helps us continue our programs.