Who are we and what we do?
The Conquest Centre is a leading charity dedicated to providing outstanding riding tuition and therapy to adults and children with all kinds of disabilities in our purpose built Centre. We offer riding tuition on a regular basis for both disabled and able-bodied clients within our first class facilities, being able to not only ride within our purpose built indoor riding arena, but clients are also able to escape out doors around our secure orchard area. We currently provide riding tuition to over 170 disabled riders who can ride all year round in all weather conditions.
The Conquest Centre provides individuals the opportunity to:
- Reach therapeutic goals; improve muscle tone and posture, develop and grow fine motor movements
- Achieve their personal ambitions; sit on a horse for the first time, learn new skills, win a paralympic medal (Debbie Criddle, gold medal winner, is one of our patrons who started at the centre after her motorbike accident left her badly injured)
- Combat social isolation; build relationships, enjoy events and competitions, develop self-confidence.
- Develop life skills; improve communication, take responsibilities, learn to be a team player.
- Experience the outdoors and ride in the countryside
- Connect with animals; bringing positivity and optimism, adding a new element to life.
- Interact with horses which provides valuable opportunities for learning and building self-esteem.
The History
There is nothing new about putting disabled people with horses; the Greeks and Roman civilisations did it centuries ago. However, the inspiration for this activity as we know today was undoubtedly triggered by the remarkable achievement of Mada Lis Hartel, who was severely crippled by polio in 1944. She had been a rider previously and throughout her years of struggle to overcome the paralysis never lost the desire to ride again. She succeeded to such an extent that she won a silver medal for dressage at the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952.
From her achievements, the idea of riding for the disabled spread world-wide. Mrs Jacques was the founder of the Pony Riding for the Disabled Trust in 1958, where she had her own horse and two ponies for her children. For some time a slipped disc and arthritis had troubled Mrs Jacques, but she noticed that daily riding eased her back and made her whole body more supple. The medical profession subsequently agreed that riding did benefit disabled people and with their approval the Pony Riding for the Disabled Trust was born. From these small beginnings the movement expanded all over the country until in 1969 the Riding for the Disabled Association was formed under the presidency of the Duchess of Norfolk.
There are now over 500 groups throughout the United Kingdom, which dispense a unique therapy for all disabled people. The Conquest Centre is one of those groups based in Taunton providing these valuable services for disabled people in the South West.
How can horse riding benefit disabled people?
Riding provides a degree of independence and freedom for people with physical disabilities, profound learning difficulties and hearing or visual impairment. Disabled people are encouraged to start riding for the enjoyment, the challenge and so they may become part of a group of like-minded individuals sharing a sense of achievement and camaraderie.
Riding offers our clients the opportunity to go out into the countryside, through woods and over a stream, to experience a world that is usually denied to them. When riding they are on equal if not a higher footing than everyone else giving them a powerful sense of equality.
Apart from psychological benefits, Doctors and Therapists now recognise the huge physical positives in riding. The warmth of the three dimensional movement of the horse is transmitted through the riders body making them more relaxed and supple, reducing rigidity and improving balance, posture and co-ordination.
Riding can provide a focus for developing skills and both young and old gain confidence in their physical, social and intellectual abilities. Teachers believe children have found a sense of purpose through this activity, which has increased enthusiasm for knowledge, through reading and learning about horses. This real interest has expanded their horizons enormously.
Our Centre
We operate a six-day week during standard term times and currently have 44 riding sessions with around 170 riders per week. All our riders are supervised by trained instructors and assisted by a large number of voluntary helpers. We have a large all weather indoor arena, to ensure continued provision of services, as well as a smaller outside arena, and a short track circling an orchard, which gives the opportunity to ride outside, ground and weather permitting.
The horses used in our centre are highly trained to accept disabled people with additional needs. They are calm, patient and understand the needs of our clients people allowing them to experience the joy of riding.
If you would like to find out more about us and the services we provided please browse through the web site, alternatively please call us at Conquest and we will be happy to help.