"The children grow in confidence over weeks, learning to ride, grooming the animals and mucking out the stables. Nylah, 9, with a horse at the Ebony Horse Club (REUTERS) Nine-year-old Nylah Murray Charles said she was initially nervous, but had a great time riding. I got scared a bit, but I was like maybe I should just give it a try', she said. When I tried, it was actually great and I had fun."
The Ebony Horse Club is a 30-year-old charity located in south London's Brixton neighborhood, serving approximately 160 children weekly from disadvantaged backgrounds. Situated amid social housing and train tracks in a recognized hotspot for knife crime, the facility offers children their first encounters with horses through riding lessons, grooming, and stable maintenance. Participants like nine-year-old Matthew Sanchez and Nylah Murray Charles experience significant personal growth, overcoming initial nervousness to develop confidence and discover enjoyment in equestrian activities. Riding instructor Rachel Scott-Hayward notes that children demonstrate measurable confidence improvements over weeks of participation. This urban sanctuary provides a unique rural refuge within one of England's most economically deprived regions.
#youth-development #equestrian-therapy #disadvantaged-communities #charitable-organizations #mental-health-and-wellbeing
Read at www.independent.co.uk
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]