'Bob' Along for Unique Therapy!

Opportunities for therapy, enjoyment and achievement for all are being pioneered in an innovative way by a Lancashire charity.

Jigsaw, aka Mawdesley Equine & People Trust, has invested in something unique in the northwest: Bob. An electronic riding simulator that reacts to the rider’s weight in the saddle, pressure from the leg and movement of the hands, Bob provides completely safe solution for anyone, regardless of experience, ability and confidence, to learn and develop riding skills.

Under the direction of BHSAI qualified instructors, and to all appropriate safety and insurance standards, riders can progress from initial balance and basic aids such as mastering rising trot, then apply that knowledge on Jigsaw’s real ponies or horses, and compliment it with additional skills such as stable management through the charity’s purpose-designed accredited horsemanship training solutions: Jigsaw’s Sue Carr has developed a range of sessions for both mainstream and special schools, to empower pupils and enhance their feeling of self-worth and achievement.

She elaborates, “Being around and involved with horses is already proven to play a huge role in therapy and achievement for anyone, and is one of the most truly inclusive sports available. Horses do not differentiate between people because of their physical or mental limitations. ‘Bob’ gives a whole new dimension to the equine experience, enabling anyone to master basic balance and aids without the worry of trying to control a animal beneath them, and giving them to confidence to progress to a real mount.

“The experience I have gathered through a lifetime of working with horses and people has now been tailored to develop a series of extra-curricular activities designed to bring out the best in each individual, giving the education sector- or individuals- a new range of opportunities for those in their care.”

Jigsaw- fitting the pieces for complete equine skills
Back House Stables, Hall Lane, Mawdesley, Lancashire L40 2QY
www.equinextra.com; tel 01704 822821