Inclusive club helps disabled horse rider reach dressage success

Saturday 12 June 2021

A 24-year-old, who flourished in the saddle with the help of an inclusive club, has become one of the first local horse riders to take part in a dressage competition for the Riding for the Disabled Association league.

Ryan Le Monnier has been riding since the age of 12 and started learning about dressage a couple of years ago.

Last year, he was due to take part in regional qualifiers in Wales with Finn, the horse he is leasing, but the competition got cancelled as a result of covid.

This year, the competition is taking place entirely online and Ryan had the support of the team at the Home Farm Equestrian Club, which he joined in February.

Pictured: Ryan, and Finn, joined Home Farm Equestrian earlier this year.

The Club was founded in May 2020 with the aim of building a supportive, fun and friendly equestrian community. The club, which now counts 211 members from the ages of three to 68, provides a range of activities and demonstrations, including ridden and non-ridden activities for equestrian enthusiasts of all levels.

“Ryan has autism,” his mum, Karen Le Monnier. “He has quite severe dyspraxia, so he finds talking difficult. He can also find processing information difficult so everything has to be done slow so that he has the chance to understand.

“The Club have just been fantastic, they have involved him in everything. I don’t drive a horsebox and they have been picking us up, taking us up and back. 

“They are absolutely wonderful, and they have been very inclusive, they gave so much confidence to people.

“When you think of horseriding, you think it’s competitive and high-level, but they have opened it up to everyone, they are so inclusive to everyone. 

“They have made it accessible to everybody, it’s just a wonderful club.”

Pictured: Ryan recently won a trophy at the Northdale show.

Ryan goes to the Home Farm club once a week and also has lessons with Alex Hill. “He’s really progressing,” his mum said. 

Recently the club also assisted Ryan in filming his submission for his Dressage test for the Southwest regional qualifier for the Riding For the Disabled Association (RDA) league.

“I loved doing my test in the indoor arena and I love being part of Home Farm,” he said.

After Karen Barette, Chairman of Home Farm Equestrian, and Carol Gay, Treasurer, picked Ryan and his mum, they helped get the arena ready and then helped with the filming as Karen Le Monnier explained. 

“Everyone has been supportive to Ryan and myself, we really appreciate it. It’s lovely to be part of such an inclusive and supportive club.”

“On behalf of the whole club I would like to wish Ryan the best of luck,” Karen Barette said. “As a club we are delighted to have been able to assist Ryan on his journey so far and we are all looking forward to seeing his partnership with Finn develop. 

“I am thankful to all our fantastic members, trainers and committee who continue to be supportive and encouraging to all our members, it’s incredibly rewarding seeing the progress our members continue to make with the right support.”

Pictured: "It’s lovely to be part of such an inclusive and supportive club," Karen Le Monnier said.

Ryan has now submitted his Dressage Test and he’s expecting to have his results after 12 July.

In addition to Dressage, he is also interested in showjumping and recently won a trophy at the Northdale show.

“He has been very excited, he thinks it’s lots of fun,” Ryan’s mum said. “He’s done online competition but nothing like that before, we believe he is the first from Jersey to compete for Riding for the Disabled.

“He wants to progress and get better and better. We are hoping to get to some dressage competitions locally, he has never actually done anything over here, it will give him some experience.”