Southern Horse Magazine June / July 2016 | Page 76

Dartmoor Ponies Help Teenagers with Life Challenging Issues Succeed At One Of The UK’s Toughest Youth Challenges A ground-breaking project saw three Dartmoor ponies enable 16 teenagers with a range of challenging life issues to take part in the famous and gruelling Ten Tors Challenge on Dartmoor which took place 7-8 May 2016. Dartmoor, they would have laughed at me, but in school we started to see a bit more enthusiasm, a bit more positivity and self control. Today they didn’t just walk up and down the Tors of Dartmoor, they climbed mountains – in their minds - and came back asking to do it again A parent commented: “My son was frightened of even going out of the front door. Since working with the ponies, he is now able to walk the dogs, go to the local shop and hold a conversation with anyone we meet”. The event is regarded as one of the toughest challenges in the UK to be undertaken by teenagers. Four hundred teams of six face hikes of 34, 45 or 55 miles crossing Dartmoor’s infamously difficult terrain over two days carrying all they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely, with a shorter one-day route for less able young people. Ten Tors is organised by the Army which approached registered charity the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT) to provide additional opportunities for young people who face difficulties on a day-to-day basis, to take part. The DPHT already runs a highly regarded Equine Assisted Learning programme called ‘Ponies Inspiring People’, using Dartmoor ponies to help young people to overcome anxiety and gain resilience, self-belief and transferable skills for life. Led by Dru Butterfield, it created Fresh Tracks specifically for the Ten Tors Challenge and students from Teign and Ivybridge Secondary Schools and a combined group from Ratcliffe and Oakland Park Special Needs Schools at Dawlish, along with teaching and support staff, DPHT volunteers and Moorland Guides, began training over eight weeks to prepare for the demanding ten mile trek. Dru said: “Delivering Fresh Tracks has been an amazing team effort. The schools have made huge commitments [email protected] to bringing students to training sessions, including weekend walks; the students and their families/carers have shown incredible determination and enthusiasm – we cannot praise them highly enough; and our volunteer guides and support team members have been invaluable. Photographer Malcolm Snelgrove has followed the entire journey with his cameras and enabled us to hold every memory; our ‘Fresh Tracks’ t-shirts were given by Dewerstone Outdoor Living; much of the outdoor clothing was provided by Rohan, Gift your Gear and by friends, including the Army; and Stringer Equine vets have been there just in case.” The temperaments of the Dartmoor ponies, Skylark (Lark) and Stonechat (Chatty), loaned by volunteer Sue Parrott of Chagford, and the DPHT pony George, proved paramount. Typically stoic and gentle, but also tough and resilient, they shared these attributes with the students. One head teacher said: “The students have benefitted from the closeness, unconditional love and attention from the ponies. Their response has been very positive and they show resilience to new situations with skills that are transferable into everyday life situations.” An assistant head teacher added: “Two months ago, if I had suggested to these lads that we walk 10 miles across “The change is incredible: he is so much more confident and comfortable with life; he is taking responsibility for himself and getting prepared for the day ahead; he doesn’t get so stressed and worried about every little thing that might happen. Our family life has improved so much you wouldn’t believe”, said a