A Rider's View

A friend called me one day in the fall and asked if I'd ever thought about riding a horse. I have multiple sclerosis and can't take a single unaided step without falling. Riding a horse certainly never crossed my mind! She explained that two of her sisters volunteered at a thing called Little Bits. It was a therapeutic riding program down at the Whitemud Equine Centre. I'd never heard of it and I didn't know such a thing existed in Edmonton. She said there was a class of ladies with MS that rode there. Would I be interested in watching them sometime? Sure I said. Why not.

So one clear cold November morning we went to the Equine Centre to watch the MS ladies ride. They were very impressive, trotting and turning on the instructor's command. While the class was going on I was introduced to Linda Rault and a number of the volunteers who were working that day. When the MS ladies were finished their class, I was introduced to them and had a chance to talk with them about their experiences with Little Bits.

The enthusiasm, positive energy and good natured, pure fun that was evident in everyone's attitude from the riders to the volunteers to family members, decided me that day to sign up for the next session in the spring. In April when I began riding with my own class, I saw that my first impression of Little Bits had been real.

For the past 6 years I've had to re-arrange and re-learn how to do pretty much everything in my life. With Little Bits I've discovered that riding a horse is something I can do. It's a brand new activity and I'm learning to do it AFTER the MS, not give it up BECAUSE of the MS. By itself that's a tremendous thrill, but the bonus has been that riding has helped my sense of balance and the muscles in my legs get a terrific workout.

I'm not doing this by myself. My decision to participate in Little Bits as a rider is supported weekly by the efforts of a large group people - my parents, friends, the volunteers, and instructors who have become friends. I am profoundly grateful for their commitment to make it possible for me to see the world from the back of a patient horse on a river valley trail in springtime.