As the sun sinks low on a chilly April day, at a livery yard in Plean, the noise of laughter and the thud of hooves on sand can be heard, as a group of young people and their coaches make their way into the paddock for their lesson. But this is no ordinary riding lesson. These young people are learning equestrian vaulting, a graceful mixture of gymnastics and dance, all done on horseback.

The group I am meeting today is run by Equi-Power and is open to young people with disabilities and additional support needs. For many of these young people, equestrian vaulting is more than just a sport—it’s life-changing. 11-year-old Miriam Brownlee is one of those for whom the impact has been remarkable.

Miriam’s mother Jay Brownlee tells me “It is the first time I’ve ever seen Miriam really sparked by an activity. She truly comes alive when she’s on the horse. I was hopeful about the benefits of equestrian vaulting for Miriam but I really could not have predicted how quickly it would help her or in how many different ways.”

Watching the lesson progress you can see that the experienced Equi-Power coaches are eager to push the young people to improve. “They don’t mollycoddle them, they actually make them do hard stuff but it a way that is appropriate for them” Jay explains. “Miriam doesn’t always get it first time but she’s totally invested in being able to learn new skills so she’s developing real resilience”.

Miriam recently took part in her first competition. Jay admits she was nervous about how Miriam, who is inclined to perfectionism, would cope if she came last. “She’s not been vaulting for very long so I knew she definitely wasn’t going to be the best. She didn’t come last as it happens but she came quite low down in the rankings, however, she was still so incredibly happy and proud of herself!”

Jay loves the fact that although Miriam is part of a group with disabilities, they compete in mainstream competitions. “There’s just such a supportive environment and an understanding from the other competitors. They’re so welcoming and they really help each other out.”

Being on a horse has other benefits for Miriam who sometimes struggles to interpret signals her body is sending her. Her mother shares, “This can make it hard for her to recognise when she needs the toilet, if she’s too hot or cold or even if she’s in pain – Miriam once walked around on a broken foot for two days because we didn’t realise how sore it was. The really big movements that come from being on a horse are beneficial because they centre her body and improve her awareness of the sensations she’s feeling”.

Jay explains that Miriam also struggles sometimes with certain aspects of self-care, but the horses are helping with that too. “Being able to groom the horses is so good for her. We can talk about how the horse needs to have his hair brushed, and the horse needs to get washed because it’s sweaty – things that Miriam finds a bit more challenging and it’s not confrontational as it’s about the horse not her. Most of the other children and young people in the group have autism which gives Miriam an opportunity to see people who are struggling with similar things.”

Although Miriam is comfortable being on the horse she’s nervous about being on the ground near the horse but she’s desperate to gain confidence. “She’s got a favourite horse and she wants to be able to feed it. The volunteers are being so patient in teaching her that she might be small but actually she has the ability to manage this horse. It’s such an invaluable skill to know that even when things feel out of your control you can learn ways to manage the situation.”

A completely unexpected benefit for Jay herself has been connecting with other parents of children with autism. “I had desperately been searching for a group of parents who understood what I was going through and that I could discuss challenges with, things that other parent’s might not understand and Equi-power gives me just that. I hoped Equi-Power would be good for Miriam but I hadn’t imagined it would be so good for me too!”

As the lesson comes to an end and the horses are led back to the stables, the young riders’ faces reflect a quiet sense of achievement. It’s clear that for Miriam and the others, equestrian vaulting is about so much more than just developing new skills, it’s about building confidence, nurturing friendships and having a space to be themselves.

This years marks the 30^th anniversary of The National Lottery, and we are proud to support groups like Equi-power whose work gives young people like Miriam a chance to soar.

To find out more about our funding visit our website.