A mother has praised the island’s Riding for the Disabled group after four years of weekly sessions at its stables in Andreas helped her 11-year-old son, BBC News Isle of Man reported.
Margaret’s son Donnchadh has Kabuki syndrome, which the BBC said affects about one in 32,000 people. She believes he is the only person on the island with it. He has also had open-heart surgery and lives with epilepsy and Chiari malformation, and receives care on the island and at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
Margaret told the BBC he comes home “much happier” on session days and walks “a bit taller”. She said she had seen improvements in his mobility and in everyday tasks such as putting on his shoes.
The family was referred through his school. Margaret said wider community awareness brings more support as children grow older.
Volunteer Kat Ions said the charity, which recently marked its 50th anniversary, delivers more than 1,000 sessions a year. She said the sessions focus on what people can do, and that the centre sees “a lot of first words” from children.
Show jumping has recently been introduced, and the group hopes to explore vaulting, the BBC reported.
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