Residents are being urged to sponsor a disabled child for a year in the Island's innovative Riding for the Disabled programme.

The programme has seen a dramatic rise in self-confidence and self-esteem for the children who have taken part as they bond with the animals, said chairman of the charity's fund-raising committee Sue Smith in a speech to Hamilton Lions yesterday.

Now Bermuda Riding for the Disabled, which was set up in 1973, is launching a `Support a Child to Ride' campaign to get residents to sponsor a single child for a year at a cost of $2,000.

The sponsor will be given a progress report so they will be able to see the changes that have taken place in the child they support.

"We believe it is important for donors to see the benefits their contribution of $2,000 can make. So we will send them progress reports on the child they sponsor and receive a certificate of appreciation, which includes a picture of the child that is being assisted," she said.

Mrs. Smith said the programme provides riding for around 70 disabled children each year, at a cost of $2,000 each, plus $7,000 to maintain each of the seven specially trained horses at the WindReach Recreational Village in Warwick.

Riding can be therapeutic in improving the children's posture, balance, coordination, mental dexterity, muscle strength and endurance, she said.

"With children who have cerebral palsy, the warmth and motion of the horses' body can significantly reduce muscle spasms, and stretch muscles," said Mrs. Smith.

"Psychologically, research has shown the riding helps develop self-confidence, self-esteem, self-image and can improve concentration.

As many of you can appreciate, self-esteem and self-confidence among people with disabilities can be extremely low because of the everyday struggles they have to endure over an able-bodied person."

Mrs. Smith said one four-year-old child who had never uttered a word spoke for the first time after his first riding lesson to thank the horse and tell him he would see it next week.

"The child developed a strong enough bond with the horse to encourage him to openly communicate with the horse. Since then, the child has been progressing in leaps and bounds and now feels more confident in communicating with his parents, teachers and peers.

"People with disabilities are restricted in the sports they can do. They are limited in the places they can go.

"The Bermuda Riding for the Disabled represents one of the few activities where the riders forget entirely about their disability.

"As simple as it may sound, on the back of the horse, they are no different than you and me. And they deserve to be treated this way."

Mrs. Smith said the course also helps those training for the Para-Olympics, and she believed some of the current riders had the potential to participate.