Edith goes riding for one last time (From Swindon Advertiser)

Edith goes riding for one last time

9:10am Tuesday 16th June 2009 in Search By Emma Streatfield

AN 88-YEAR-OLD has been granted her wish to go horse riding one last time.

Edith Withers, who is cared for at the Quarry Mount Residential Care Home in Bath Road, was treated to a ride on Pepsi at the Wickstead Farm Equestrian Centre, “I enjoyed it and I’m coming back – it was lovely,” said Edith, who kissed the horse in gratitude.

The day trip was part of a week of activities organised by the residential home, which specialises in care for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

This is in line with the Breath of Fresh Air Week, a challenge by the National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People (NAPA) to get all patients in homes outside in the fresh air.

Also brought along to the farm, on Eastrop, just outside Highworth, was fellow horse-lover and Quarry Mount resident 84-year-old Margaret Wilson.

Sharon Horsfield, the home’s activities coordinator, said she understood Edith had once owned three horses and she came up with the idea after taking Edith to see the switching on of the Christmas lights in the town centre.

“She patted a police horse and burst into tears and said ‘I miss it’,” said Miss Horsfield.

“That shows how much it means to get out and not see the same four walls.

“We asked residents how do we get you outside and Edith said ‘I want to ride one more time’.”

Although Edith suffers from short-term memory loss, assistant manager Barbara Bradford said she had remembered that she was going horse riding and her only worry was falling off.

Wickstead Farm facilitates a Riding for the Disabled group, a Thursday session run for disabled adults and children with specially trained horses so was able to help.

Farm owner Vicki Mace said: “She clearly rode before - she knew how to hold the reins and it was just a wonderful experience she wanted to do one last time.”

Other activities during the week include a dog show, a teddy bears’ picnic with children, bowls and a day out at West Swindon’s Lower Shaw Farm or the Cotswold Wildlife Park.

“Our home is pretty good at trips and we have dinner outside, but it’s hard to get residents to go out because they lose their confidence,” said Miss Horsfield.

“It’s unknown territory and unknown ground, they can be very scared about going out.”

Mrs Bradford said that being outside can make such a difference to their patients’ health.

“Once you get them outside they just change and go back to when they were children enjoying the summer,” she said.