Sweet sorrow
“WHEN my non-horsey parents bought me a pony with a bridle, I didn’t tell them for six months we needed a saddle, too, for fear they might sell the pony, ” laughs Annette Frazier. Having just celebrated 50 years teaching with the South-West Devon branch of the Pony Club, Annette has witnessed countless children desperate to keep hold of their ponies, such is the wrench of losing them.
The idea of experiencing emotional turmoil because your parents have to sell your pony may feel like the most first world of first-world problems. But it is worth considering and being prepared to support children through this. As Elaine Freeman, a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) psychotherapist and equine facilitated psychotherapist (EFP), says: “Whatever problem a child has, if it’s causing them distress, then it’s worthy – if it’s making them unhappy, it needs to be worked through.”
“The yard and theirPONY CLUB INSTRUCTOR ANNETTE FRAZIER
