An Afternoon with Maryculter Carriage Driving for the Disabled

Every Wednesday from May to September, a group of probably the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet (and not just because of their great cakes and tray bakes!), come together at Maryculter to run carriage driving sessions for the disabled. The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has offered carriage driving as an activity since 1975 and it is available to all RDA members. There are now almost 80 groups involved, giving opportunities to over 1,000 drivers. RDA volunteers sit alongside the driver to offer assistance and tuition as and when it's required. The group at Maryculter first started in 1986 when Jane MacInnes and some friends began taking disabled people out for carriage drives on her and husband Ewan’s beautiful 130-acre livestock farm. Now a fully affiliated self-funded RDA group, they still have use of the land, as well as the Scout’s Templar Park drives. The location could not be more picturesque and as various tracks wend their way through the landscape and just beyond a canopy of trees, is a small hut doing big things…

The sun is shining when I arrive (a miracle in itself these days after the never-ending rain) and there is a buzz around the shed as picnic tables and chairs are laid out. There is no sign yet of any horses, which might seem odd at first, but I quickly realise that just as important to the group is the opportunity to socialise and support one another over a cup of tea and a ‘fine piece’ (and there are many to be had!) It is this sense of connection borne of a shared purpose to help others that bonds the group, making them at once tightknit but extremely welcoming. Everyone has a friendly smile on their face and an open countenance that puts a stranger at ease immediately.

In the distance, I hear a whinny and the clip clop of hooves, and the star of the show arrives – George. Oh wait, George is the human, not the horse. More about him later 😉 The pony is called Brodie and he has been specially broken to harness as a therapy driving pony. Understandably, therapy driving ponies need to have a certain temperament. They need to be patient, safe and trustworthy in a variety of situations and changing circumstances. It takes time to produce a pony like that - and money to buy one! Horses are expensive to keep, there is simply no getting away from it and the group relies entirely on donations and fundraising. When I chat with the treasurer for the group, Kees Witte, I get the distinct impression that his is not an easy job. Sarah Holtom, Chair of the group, elaborates further, explaining that part of the issue is that there is still a misconception around anything to do with horses being elitist. In other words, if you can afford a horse, then you don’t need any money to help you. The volunteers all give their time for free of course, but attracting and retaining them is also difficult. People have all sorts of personal and professional commitments that can make volunteering hard, even when you really want to help. Added to that the fact that facilitating one carriage driving session takes at least 4-5 people (the driver, ballast, two helpers on the ground and one up front), means a large volunteer support team is needed. The group currently has 3 official driving coaches, Kate Brockman, George Masson and Ann Miller.

What strikes me chatting to the volunteers is the length of time which so many of them have been doing it for. Once they start, they stay. This is particularly true for George, the longest serving volunteer of almost 30 years (22 of which he was Chair of the group). He explains to me that when he first started, it was his interest in horses and experience carriage driving that made him want to get involved. He stayed however, for the people. “It’s been a labour of love”, he explains. The feeling is mutual as the affection with which he is held by the people he supports is clear to see. The group includes individuals with Partial Sight, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis and learning difficulties. Kevin, who is partially sighted, is first to get on the carriage with George. When I ask him what it is that he loves most about the sessions, he explains that he never thought he would be able to do something like this. He can’t drive a car because of his sight loss and is reliant on others in so many aspects of his life. When he is driving the carriage however, he is in control. He has agency and independence. This is a theme which comes through consistently in my conversations with the service users, carers and volunteers.

Noreen, who is an ambulant wheelchair user, explains that it took her a year to build up the courage to start carriage driving, but once she did, she loved it. She is clearly very good at it as well, as she is considering competing in the sport! The carriage is specially adapted with ramps to allow wheelchair access, with safety equipment installed in the driving seat as well. As Sarah explains further, for many of the people who come, this is the only opportunity where they are in driving seat (quite literally) of their lives. For a wheelchair user who requires assistance being pushed by someone else every day, this is the only time when they are the ones controlling the speed and direction of travel. The joy of this is writ large on the faces of everyone involved. John has been coming to the group since its inception in 1986 and Bertie has an enthusiasm for driving that is only matched by his affection for George. Some of the individuals communicate in Makaton, a language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to help people communicate. Sarah explains that often the volunteers don’t actually know what additional supports needs the people who come along have. They get to know the person, not the condition. This is reflected in the myriad ways in which everyone communicates throughout the sessions, and it makes me reflect not only on my own privilege as an able-bodied person, but also on the fact that there are so many different ways in which a person can have a voice – if only we listen correctly.

The group is not just a place of inclusivity for the people who use it, but also for all the volunteers and families involved. Sarah explains that many of the volunteers are parents who came along to help their own children and then stayed to become volunteers to help everyone. Some of the volunteers I spoke with elaborated on the purpose the group gives them after retirement and in combating social isolation and loneliness. There is a mixture of horsey and non-horsey volunteers, some of whom no longer want to ride in the saddle, but still want to be involved with horses in some way. This is something which is borne out in my chat with Jane. I manage to catch her between sessions taking people out in the carriage with her lovely little Welsh pony. The group hire Jane as an extra set of wheels because they have more people coming than one pony can manage. What Jane doesn’t know about driving isn’t worth knowing! An international driving judge and holder of the highest level of qualification for carriage driving, she lectures, advises and teaches around the world. Jane is fascinating and has the most wonderful stories to tell about her lifetime carriage driving. I could chat to her for ages and we keep digressing into other great stories such as competing against Prince Philip or driving a carriage down Union Street behind a group of bagpipers and trying to get them to walk a bit faster as the procession was proving too slow a pace for the horses! What really comes across however is Jane’s enthusiasm for driving as an equalising force – anyone can do it (even into their 80s and 90s she exclaims!) It allows people who might not be able to ride or might not want or be able to sit in a saddle anymore, to still enjoy the exhilaration, freedom and joy that comes from horses. And there is so much exhilaration to be had from it! I was lucky enough to have a shot myself when one of the driving coaches Ann took me out and I loved it! As a horse owner myself, I am used to spending a lot of time in the saddle, so it was totally new experience to be in the driving seat of a carriage instead! It was a day of reflection in so many ways, both personally and professionally and I want to take the opportunity to thank all the amazing people I met for the privilege of joining in. You are an inspiration.

If you would like to consider supporting or volunteering, please get in touch via the following contacts:

Sarah Holtom, Chairperson, email: sarahjj094@yahoo.co.uk

Kate Brockman, Group Organiser, email: brockman.kate@brinternet.com