Braving the odds

Pat Bellairs, Administrator of Riding for the Disabled Association of Dubai (RDAD)

I developed a love for horses at a very young age. By 10 I was riding them.

After years of nagging, my parents bought a horse for my sister and me to share, but only if we paid half the expenses.

So my teenage years were very busy - working odd jobs to pay livery fees, riding my horse and keeping up with schoolwork.

I had no time or energy to get into mischief. Without realising it, I was learning about responsibility and the satisfaction that comes from working hard to reach a goal.

While at university in 1971, my interest turned to psychology.

It was during these years that I first started learning about autism.

I was always fascinated by this complex disorder and volunteered to assist children with autism at the University of California, Los Angeles.

My goal at the time was to become a child psychologist but one thing led to another.

I started working in my family's radio business. A few years of hands-on experience provided a very practical education. Later I did a two-year course in Business Administration.

However, horses remained an important part of my life and eventually led me to the racetrack where I worked first as a groom, then as a rider and finally earned my racehorse trainer's licence.

I am proud of this achievement since at the time, horse racing in the US was a male-dominated field and there were many obstacles to overcome.

While living in Kentucky, I volunteered at the Lexington Riding for the Disabled programme. Sharing my love for horses with riders with special needs just made sense.

He introduced me to the Director of the Dubai Equine Hospital that had not yet been built. I was hired to help get the hospital up and running.

I held the position of administrator of the Dubai Equine Hospital for five years.

Observing some of the best veterinarians in the world added to my understanding of equine healthcare in Dubai's desert climate.

Those were Godolphin's formative years and it was an exciting time to be working in the racing industry.

Now I have been RDAD's administrator for five years and I would not trade this job for any other ... it is the most satisfying job I have ever had.

It allows me to combine my interest in psychology and my love for horses with my organisational skills and create a programme that benefits people with special needs.

As with any administrator, there is no "typical" day since I wear many hats.

That is certainly one of the challenges - being able to change tactics, solve problems, think on my feet and prevent an untoward situation before it happens.

I ensure that the riders and volunteers are safe and the classes are effective.

To prepare for the season, I meet with teachers, therapists and parents and together we determine which children will benefit the most.

I am personally involved in selecting and training the ponies we use.

We have to be sure wheelchairs and loud noises do not frighten the ponies and that the horses stand quietly when we play games.

For example, a child who cannot balance himself well would not do well on a pony with a short, choppy stride.

On the other hand, a child with autism might do well with a more active pony because the horse's action will help to keep his attention.

I also decide which volunteers are a good match for the horse and rider.

Volunteers walk next to each rider and assist as needed. Sometimes a volunteer "clicks" with a rider and when this happens the class is more effective.

Other volunteers have equine experience and are more comfortable leading the horse.

I oversee the lesson plans and try to ensure the class will be motivating, challenging and fun.

Classes are structured differently according to the riders' ages and abilities.

When I am not teaching I participate in fundraising events.

Our goal is to raise Dh5 million so we can build an air-conditioned stable and arena.

We are closing in on this figure and with on-going help from the community we will soon reach the target.

The physically challenged riders I have been privileged to get to know are not bitter or frustrated.

I am quite amazed at the persistence and dignity with which they face their daily struggles.

They laugh when they trip or fall, even apologising if their speech is hard to understand.

I feel humbled and remind myself to be more kind and patient. I would like to think I am making some progress - but each day I realise I have a long way to go!

Every day we are bombarded with depressing, horrific reports about wars, natural disasters and poverty.

The magnitude of these disasters is overwhelming.

The tremendous outpouring of generosity for disaster victims demonstrates how eager people are to contribute to their fellow human beings.

But it cannot be achieved by gathering material possessions - the human soul is complex and searches for more.

I believe offering a helping hand to those less fortunate can fill this vacuum. RDAD's volunteers always mention how surprised they are to find such joy in helping physically challenged riders.

We watch each child have fun, become stronger, practise social skills and learn to speak. We know that in a small way we have contributed.

With each child's victory, we share in the celebration.

Without realising it, the children lift our spirits and our hearts are filled. One by one - one child at a time - we will make a difference.