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My 16-year-old more-white-than-black cob, Merlin, as you can see from the above photos, can turn his hoof to anything. I bought him when he was five, having not done a lot. He was a muddy, hairy, unfit cob and not at all the type I was looking for. However, my hard work paid off. Merlin now competes at elementary and FSM novice dressage, jumps like a stag and has done Le Trec as well. Our proudest moment was becoming a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) pony. Merlin started at Chalkdown RDA in Staplehurst, Kent, last September and it was new to both of us. I knew he had the temperament for it, so the ladies at Chalkdown came to assess him. The assessment included being ridden by children, as well as desensitisation to hoops, beanbags and various other objects to make sure he was safe for ridden work. He also had to be able to stand very still so that riders could mount him. The first time Merlin attended the RDA I knew that he’d get on just fine. He’d happily potter around with a child who has never ridden a pony before and then, in the next session, stay up to speed with a child trying to win Grandmother’s footsteps or musical poles. We are now very much part of the RDA team and go every Thursday for the day. I’m so proud of Merlin — he gives so much joy to all his riders, from children who have troubled backgrounds (such as those excluded from school due to behavioural issues) through to severely autistic non-communicating adults. When we manage to settle a child on board who is scared, crying or anxious and doesn’t want to join in, but in the next five minutes wants to go faster and play games and not get off at the end, it makes my heart sing.