This week DD fell in love and went to school for a whole day!

[AtYourCervix]

and has been delightful all weekend!

She fell in love with a very large Horse with big brown eyes and long eyelashes. She has never had any sort of leaning towards beng horsey but if she thinks she'd quite like to get into horsey stuff I think I can encourage her with it.

And School! a whole day!!! may or may not be linked to the horsey business the day before!

We have a meeting in school on thursday to make a bit of a plan for next term.

Fantastic news AYC, her new friend sounds fab.

I hope it continues for you and good luck with your meeting.

That's brilliant hope you have another great week this week. I sense some horse style bribes coming along horse magazines horse toys maybe even building up to horse riding??? Good luck with your meeting Thursday.

I took DD to swimming lessons yesterday was a bit concerned that the teacher stood at waters edge fully clothed shouting instructions. That didn't last long DD was all over the place (very un-coordinated) and fully clothed teacher ended up jumping in with her shoes and everything on let's hope she is better prepared next week. They don't call us the calamitys for nothing!!!

at the vision of the clothed swimming teacher.

meeting could go either way but a plan would be nice. I'm also still waiting for EWO to get in touch.

I would love to find something acceptable to use as bribery. horsey stuff could be the very thing.

i like your bribery style.

i was thinking about maybe riding lessons for her birthday but that's not till march so i might put it to her for after half term.

will do some extra shifts at work. why can't she decide she likes something cheap, like hamsters or something?

Pipin - great idea. Ds loves his horse riding lessons but never thought to extend that to stickers.

AYC - Is there RDA around you? They might be cheaper, at least they are around here. However, the waiting list is very long - around a year!

How old is she? My dds live horses and have a few stories that they may have finished with.
Is the horse in school grounds? Or just because she knows se will get to see horse if she goes?

RDA operates in lots of areas - worth looking into.

Animals seem to have a theraputic role to play for lots of individuals. My own son's dog has helped him so much! I think Amberlight owns a horse she's mentioned as beng very theraputic for her?

Lots of city farms appreciate an older child volunteer to help with mucking out and grooming @ weekends. A friends teen daughter does this as grooming her favourite horse seems to reduce her anxiety no end, it's not just about the riding. Cos she's so dedicated she gets a few riding lessons in the school holidays in return, (though she doesn't tell em she'd do it without getting free lessons )

Helping with grooming etc can give the theraputic benefit without the massive cost associated with frequent riding lessons. Most stables never turn down an extra pair of volunteer hands above a reasonable age. Decathlon sports has reasonably priced boots/hard hats.

It's not blatent bribery it's "motivation" lol!

We take the girls to rising therapy, it's wonderful but sadly for dd1 the calming effect only lasts for the time we are there

DD is doing a course at a horse rescue place that runs lots of programmes for children with SEN. it is just a really lovely place. will try the bribing with riding lessons.