Jo Kennedy has seen firsthand the incredible transformation in children participating in the horse programs at Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Photo: Margo Wade.
Jo Kennedy remembers the day her youngest child’s kindergarten teacher suggested taking him along to Pegasus Riding for the Disabled.
Just getting Fletcher to school was a massive undertaking in those early days, the Canberra mum of three recalls.
“He had to jump on the trampoline for two hours every day to regulate himself before school,” Jo says.
“And he was an absconder – he wouldn’t even come when you called his name. I just couldn’t imagine him getting on a bus to the other side of Canberra to ride a horse!”
Fletcher was formally diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 4. Up until 2, he’d been a social, outgoing little boy who loved trucks, according to Jo.
Then he started to turn inward, his language fell away and he’d line up those little vehicles carefully, eventually turning his focus to the wheels only, she says.
With the diagnosis came a roller-coaster ride parents of children with a disability know painfully well – of further assessments (Fletcher would also be diagnosed with a global developmental delay), “every intensive therapy” and the rocky path to becoming an expert and advocate for your child.
“You do grieve,” Jo says. “You think it’s over for him and he’ll just be trapped in himself.”
Still, Fletcher’s “forward-thinking” teacher thought it would be a good idea for him to try the therapeutic horse program offered by the Canberra charity founded in 1975.
Incredibly, by the third week, when Jo went out to watch, her son was not only sitting on a horse, “he was totally engaged in the activity and in the moment”.
One of the volunteers turned to an incredulous Jo and remarked, “He’s got a great seat on a horse”.
“It was the first compliment I’d received about Fletcher from an external person and I can’t tell you how that made me feel.”
When Fletcher started school, he had two words – “yes” and “yippee”, according to Jo.
One day, out of the blue, Fletcher said the words, “Little Joe”. It was the name of the pony he rode at Pegasus.
“I was gobsmacked,” Jo says.
“Every time he rode there, his language would improve, as well as things like his concentration at school. It wasn’t just the physical activity and working on things like core strength; it was the freedom and happiness he felt when he was riding.”
Pegasus Riding for the Disabled helps participants build confidence and skills through the powerful connection between horse and human. Photo: Margo Wade.
Fletcher, now 14, spent five years riding at Pegasus, and during that time Jo became more and more inspired by the patience, skill and dedication of the volunteers, coaches and staff, and the transformation she saw in children working with the ponies.
After she resigned from the public service, Jo found herself volunteering at Pegasus in 2019 as a side walker (someone who walks on either side of the pony as an emotional and physical support for the rider).
She’d originally envisaged putting her policy-making skills to use in the office as she’d never been near a horse before.
“But I did have empathy and about 10,000 hours of helping a child with a disability, so in fact it was the perfect volunteering role for me, really, and Pegasus is such a welcoming and inclusive community,” Jo says.
Jo spent three years as a volunteer before moving to a more official role with the small not-for-profit organisation as its relationship and events manager.
She’s a passionate public advocate for the transformative work of Pegasus’s programs, which see participants build confidence and skills through the powerful connection between horse and human.
The charity will mark this year’s 50th milestone with a spectacular Golden Gala on 25 October at the National Arboretum, a major fundraiser to celebrate, support and ensure the Pegasus legacy continues for future generations.
Pegasus will also throw open its gates for a free Community Open Day on 27 September to showcase the Holt facility and invite the wider community, former volunteers, board members and participants to join the birthday celebrations.
“There will be a photo exhibition from the last 50 years, about 500 cupcakes, a treasure trail and opportunities to meet, pat and have photos with the ponies at the stables,” Jo says.
The gala night will raise funds towards the charity’s $1 million in operating costs, which includes ensuring the health and welfare of the 17 beautiful Pegasus ponies remains a top priority, Jo says.
It’s truly a labour of love. There are about 150 volunteers on the books with at least 80 volunteer spots needing to be filled each week, Jo says.
“It’s a big commitment from our volunteers, but generally a child needs a certain number of volunteers around them when they ride – it’s typically three people to each horse in the arena as well as a coach and assistant,” she explains.
“The majority of our participants are school-age children between the ages of four and 12 years, but we also have some adults and a new Horses Helping Humans program for disengaged and vulnerable youth.
“Ultimately, we want to keep this place going for another 50 years.”
To find out more or book tickets to the Golden Gala Shine for a Cause event, visit Pegasus.
