Chalkdown Group visits local care home to meet residents

Chalkdown Riding for the Disabled Group in Staplehurst, Kent, has introduced a regular hack to their local nursing care home to weekly activities to visit the Abbotsleigh Care Home residents who enjoy meeting the riders and horses.

“The ride is about half a mile down a leafy country lane and along a long private driveway up to the home.” says Pauline Roestenburg, the Group’s Chair. “At first the residents used to wave from the window each week when they saw us coming. Now we have an arrangement where I call ahead to say the horses and riders are on their way so that some of the residents can come outside to stroke the horses and say ‘hello’.”

Having witnessed the simple pleasure and joy that the horses can bring on their weekly visits, the Group is planning to expand these activities. Some recent sponsorship will now allow them to take a couple of the horses to other suitable nursing homes in the region over the summer next year.