Cole’s Story

From the very first lesson, Cole could not stop talking about his horse Dinah – It was love at first site! He said that she was the fastest horse in the stables and expressed to me that his favourite thing was trotting with her. Cole is on the Autism Spectrum and has ADHD. He struggles with anxiety and has difficulty in social interactions. The dedicated volunteers at the Victoria Riding for the Disabled Society have been teaching Cole how to care for and ride a horse, and with those skills they have given him so much more – He has learned how to be flexible and adapt to different situations and to face his fears – they have taught him that with perseverance and consistency he can achieve anything he puts his mind to. Over the last couple of years of riding, Cole’s confidence level has increased significantly and at the same time his anxiety has decreased. It was a proud moment for all of us to see Cole ride with such grace and confidence during the Horse Show. He was bursting with pride to be able to guide this very large but gentle animal around the ring and through the obstacle course. Words cannot express the joy that I felt in my heart to see him so happy and proud of his accomplishments. Thank you to all the VTRA volunteers and staff for all you’ve done for Cole!