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A Helper
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Gives physical and/or moral support
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Assist the Instructor
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Is Always alert and safety conscious
A Helper is Important
please do
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Wear suitable clothing and strong footwear
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Be ready to assist with mounting if asked - cheak with the instructor or therapist for that individual's procedure
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Talk to your rider - not other helpers
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Encourage the rider to listern to instructions, but help to interpert if necessary. If there is more than one helper, only
one should speak at a time
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Learn the correct holding techniques if your rider needs physical support. Allow him/her to adjust their own balance whenever
possible, but be ready to prevent a fall
Guidelines for RDA helpers
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Handle riders firmly and with confidence
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During exercises, encourage rider to do as much as possible for his/her self before helping.
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Be aware of the rider's progress, and be prepared to gradually decrease the amount of your help you give.
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Warn the leader quickly if the horse needs to be stopped.
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Supervise independent riders closely, and be ready to give assistance if they get into difficulty.
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Be ware if your rider has Epilepsy - know what to do if that person has a seizure.
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Communicate with the inastructor or therapist if you think there is a problem.
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Encourage the rider to learn the correct horse terminology.
Pleasse DON'T
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Leave anyone in a wheel chair alone near a horse
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Mount or dismount anyone without direction from the Instructor or Therapist, unless it is an EMERGENCY
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Do not hang off safty belts if the rider wears one - they are for emergency only!
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Don't walk along with your hands in your pockets -the time it takes for you get them out could be too long to prevent a
fall.
Don't ever leave a rider alone on a horse - if you have to leave make sure someone is there to take responsibility!
Side Walkers
There are two reasons for needing side walkers during a riding session.
Safety - to prevent accidents / falls
To assist teaching / learning process and to improve rider's posture and balance.
SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT AT ALL TIMES!
Safety is paramount at Riding for Disabled, helpers need to be constantly
aware so they are able to assist the rider in staying on the horse, prevent accidents before they happen and take the rider
off in an emergency. There are two ways of ensuring safety: by having a physical hold of the rider, or by having a visual
hold.
Single hold: The Side Walker ( or two if necessary) stands besides the
rider and places the arm nearest the horse over the rider's thigh (this to keep the rider in the saddle), with the arm attached
with a firm hand hold to the numnar or surcingle
The can be graded to suit the rider's level of balance by varying
the support given through the side walker's forearm of by placing the arm closer to the hip (for greater pelvic stability).
For the well balanced rider when progressing towards riding alone the side walker's elbow can be lifted up so that the side
walker is still attached to the horse/pony but is not assisting the rider. In an emergency such as the horse/pony shying,
or the rider losing balance the side walkers simply stay attached to the horse/pony to "anchor" the rider and prevent a fall.
Because the side walker has stayed close to the horse/pony she/he will be ready to do an emergency dismount should that become
necessary. If the side walker only rest a hand on the rider's knee or holds the ankle or knee they not stay with the horse/pony
if it shied, but would be left behind, and the rider could fall on the ground. The side walker must be attached to the horse/pony.
Standing besides the rider, the side walker places the hand neaserst
the horse/pony under the rider's arm and his/her outside hand accross the riders thigh to grasp the sheepskin or surcingle.
This hold is safey attached to the horse/pony as with a single hold, but also gives added to the rider's upper body. It
is used for riders who do not have independent sitting balance, or during transitions for those w hose balance is upset by
a change of pace. (ie walk to a halt)
N.B. The side walker must always remember the need to be attached to the horse/pony NOT just the rider.
If the side walker tire and needs to change sides, they must not abandon the rider both at once, but change places one
at a time when the horse/pony has stop.
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VISUAL HOLD
The side walker must always have the rider in the field of vision, and be watching attenively for any changes in the rider's
posture or emotional/socal state so that the helper can come to the support of the rider without a moments hesitatoin, e.g.
if the rider loses balance, or the horse/pony makes an unexpected move, or if the rider has an epileptic fit.
To maintain the visual hold the side walker needs to have full concentration, be alert and physically fit.
If side walkers are chatting to one another, daydreaming, strolling alng with hands in pockets, ect. a sense of false security
can develop and careless accidents may occur.
By using a visual and physical hold the rider will be twice as safe!
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