Shane O’Donovan trained as a mainstream teacher, but always wanted to teach people with special needs, which is what took him from Dublin to Little Angels in Donegal 10 years ago. Little Angels is a special needs school with 104 students from pre-school right up to 18 years of age.

Although more prevalent now, Shane says that the first special needs school was the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) in Clontarf, Dublin, where both artist Christy Brown and poet and writer Christopher Nolan attended.

“I’m 47 and when I was in school, I didn’t know anything about special needs, as there were no kids with Down Syndrome in the schools. They stayed at home with their parents and then when they reached a certain age, they were sent to services.”

All changed

Thankfully, that has changed and for the students of Little Angels, being part of the community is a massive part of the school experience. Trips to the library, eating out in the local cafés and going to the shops are an important element of their education.

So is horse riding, a tradition established by the school in partnership with the Riding for the Diabled Association Ireland (RDAI), long before Shane started teaching there.

Raphoe and East Donegal RDAI members Jan Cromie, Isobel Roulston, Brenda O’Mahoney, Sue McCauley, Miranda Doherty, Judith Porter Adeline Temple and Julie Anne Patterson.

Every Tuesday, 12 of the children get a bus out to the Ballyskeagh riding school in Artigarvan, Co Tyrone. Shane explains that there are two main benefits for the children; firstly, a boost in emotional wellbeing from the social event.

“While they are waiting for their turn, there are biscuits, tea and home-made cakes.”

The second part is the physical element: “The interaction with the horses is what the kids really can’t wait for though. This has a calming effect on them. They get to rub the horse, talk to them and get to walk the horse around.”

I wish you could see it – it has such a calming effect on them

A lot of mainstream schools now have autism units attached and Shane thinks it is brilliant when integrated education is possible. However, the kids in Little Angels can not attend a mainstream school, as many have underlining issues.

“A lot of the kids have poor concentration skills and many will have personal care needs. In terms of who can go to the riding school, they need to be able to sit up on their own and their behaviours can’t be so severe as to hurt the horse.

“I am watching the kids riding around on the horses as I am talking to you. I wish you could see it – it has such a calming effect on them.”

The children know that they are going and it is very exciting for them

About 90% of the kids have communication issues. Some of them use Lámh signs which is the Irish sign language. Others have computers where they use prologuo2go, which is a symbol-supported communication app.

“RDAI has been a life saver for Little Angels. The children know that they are going and it is very exciting for them,” Shane said.

RDAI instructor

Jan Cromie is one of the two senior instructors with the RDAI who hire both the centre in Artigarvan and the ponies each week. Jan explains that although the RDAI is a national organisation, their branch is the local Raphoe and East Donegal group.

On a normal Tuesday morning, they welcome 12 children with a varying range of abilities to the centre. Some will understand how to use the reins, but for some the benefit comes from the simple therapy of being on the ponies back and being close to the animal.

Safety is paramount and that is why so many volunteers are needed for two ponies.

“Even to get a hat on some of the children can be difficult, because of the sensory issues that they have. Each rider will have one person leading and two side walkers, one on either side.

There are 12 volunteers at the moment. In any given week, if one person is away and one is at a funeral, we are down to nine

“One person is in charge of getting hats and boots on the children, the instructor and three others lead the ponies, one either side and one leading, so you need a minimum of eight every week.

“There are 12 volunteers at the moment. In any given week, if one person is away and one is at a funeral, we are down to nine.

“Many of them have been with the group for 20 years, they will be looking for a pension from us soon,” she jokes.

“It can be hard work and there is no problem getting your steps in on the day that you are doing it, but there is a great satisfaction in seeing the difference in the child. A child may be unsettled from the bus, but they immediately relax when they see the ponies.

“It helps them to centre and enjoy just being in the moment. Things that would normally make them anxious or unhappy disappear when they are riding.

“This is the same for the volunteers. Whatever your worries are, they disappear – you are completely oblivious to what’s going on outside and you are focused on that child.

For Jan, success may be when you have a child who is apprehensive and at the end of the term, they are willing to sit on the block near the pony or even just rub the pony’s nose.

For other children, success may be learning to guide their pony around the arena with minimal support from the leader and side walkers.

As we need to buy hats and boots and pay for the hire of the centre, we are very grateful for the support of the community

“Last year, we got the special needs assistants (SNAs) to get up on a horse and put their feet in the stirrups to see what it was like for the kids in the school.

“When they tried it themselves, they had a better idea of what it was like and that helped us with coping strategies for the children.

“As we need to buy hats and boots and pay for the hire of the centre, we are very grateful for the support of the community, particularly the Donegal Harriers and Raphoe Horse Sales, who have always funded us, and of course Miranda Doherty in Ballyskeagh Stables, who facilitates us here in Artigarvan.

Currently, the RDAI are not operating due to COVID-19 restrictions, but if you are interested in volunteering, please get in contact with the RDAI at www.rdaireland.org. No specific training with children or horses is needed, as full training is provided.