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Isle Of Wight's Riding Centre Celebrates Para Hoist's Anniversary

Steve on Bluebell

Today (Sunday) marks the first anniversary of the Isle of Wight’s only para hoist - Steven Benson from Wootton - taking up the sport at the Island Riding Centre (IRC).

Steve, who has cerebral palsy has always been a regular visitor at the IRC but became too big to be lifted onto a horse.

Instead, a hoist enables him to get back in the saddle and enjoy the activity he loves.

With the help of the para hoist, for Steve’s 31st birthday he was able to get on horseback for the first time since he was a child. 

Watched and supported by his mum Carol and dad Chris, Steven alongside his regular carers Karen and Kit, IRC instructor Jo Hogan, and Wight Horse Community Interest Company, trustee Christina Czarkowski-Crouch - he was lifted from his chair onto Bluebell.

Bluebell then patiently walked him round in the centre’s indoor arena.

Louise Buckner said.

“The opening of our hoist by Steven and to see him ride today has made us all very proud.  We all work very hard in making IRC accessible and open to all, we are an RDA Accessibility Mark Centre which allows us to welcome disabled people to ride in knowledge that we are an approved centre”. Owner of Island Riding Centre and co-founder of the Wight Horse CIC"

The IRC's new indoor arena has been designed to incorporate a 'changing places' toilet of which there are currently only four on the whole of the Island and a wheelchair lift will be installed to enable full access to the first-floor viewing area and classroom.

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