“Being part of Blesma shows you what you continue to be capable of”

Take a few days horse riding in the New Forest, for example. On the surface it just looks like a bit of fun, maybe a bit of a challenge, with a bit of friendly banter in the evenings. But an event like this can really help you get the bit between your teeth.

“Activities naturally bond people because you’re not focusing on sitting down and just talking to a stranger, which can be difficult,” says Dan Deegan, a former Royal Signals soldier who took part in this riding retreat. “You’re sharing an experience, you’re often outdoors, it’s exhilarating so you’re getting a dopamine hit, and you’re around other people who have physical limitations, so you feel normal and less isolated.

“People who have served in the military are usually active and strong willed – they’ve got determination and grit. When you are a physical person, having a sense of freedom is like breathing, and to have that freedom taken away is no small thing. Whenever I go on a Blesma trip that lack of freedom is satiated because I’m empowered physically. Being part of Blesma shows you what you continue to be capable of.”

That sense of empowerment is exactly why this four-day horse riding event has been a popular part of the Association’s activities calendar for a number of years. The event isn’t just about riding horses; it’s about connection, challenge and rediscovering abilities that life after injury can sometimes obscure.

Jess March brought her lifelong love of riding to Blesma when she joined as Head of Activities almost a decade ago. In previous years, the event has taken place in Arizona (another reason for its popularity!) and whilst the New Forest doesn’t perhaps have quite the same ring to it, Jess has worked hard to recreate an equally exhilarating experience in the UK.

Ask the eight Members brushing down their trusty steeds at Burley Villa Riding School. Some have never been near a horse before, while others are seasoned riders, but over the next four days they will all learn, laugh and, ultimately, discover just how much riding can offer – both physically and mentally. The week begins with an introduction to the horses. Members learn how to groom them, put a saddle on and communicate with their horse. There are lessons in the riding school each day to get to grips with the basics before heading out onto the forest trails to put those new-found skills to the test. And the practicalities of riding with a range of disabilities is one of the reasons Jess continued to focus on the Western style of riding when she brought the event to the UK.

New Forest, same vibe. “Western has a cowboy vibe,” says Jess. “The horses are trained to neck rein, so most of the steering comes from the seat and hands rather than the legs. Basically, you point the horse in the direction you want to go, and it heads that way. It’s a simple way of riding. Plus, the saddles are a lot bigger, so you’re more supported, and you can balance more easily because there’s a horn at the front of the saddle to hold on to. It’s just a better way to ride if you have any kind of disability.”

Better perhaps, but it’s still a challenging week. “The Members are responsible for tacking up their own horse; there’s plenty of riding each day and, when that’s done, they have to take the saddles back off and brush their horse down again,” says Jess. “And it can be difficult to even get on and off a horse; I noticed that every single person did it in a different way – it was about finding a way that worked for them. One Member took his prosthetic leg off so he didn’t have to swing it over the horse, for example, and that’s the great thing about this type of horse riding – it can adapt to anybody’s needs.”

There were always instructors around to help, but as with everything Blesma, it was about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to achieve that little bit more. “Our Members don’t want to be mollycoddled; they just want to be treated like everyone else,” says Jess. “They enjoy that a fellow Member might laugh when they take their leg off to get on the horse. It’s just normal for them. Our Members just want to get on with it, and live their life the best that they can.”

Bonding builds confidence. That is certainly true for Dan Deegan. He had to cut his Army career short in the early 1990s after sustaining an injury on exercise. His right leg was amputated below the knee following an unrelated accident several years later, but he didn’t join Blesma until 2019.

“I’m always a bit apprehensive going on Blesma events because I think I’m going to feel like the odd one out being around people with extensive military careers,” says Dan. “I’ve sometimes been terrified before I got to the venue, but there’s always a mix of people and I’ve never regretted a single trip. There’s always someone to bond with, and when that happens your confidence builds.”

So how did he find the horse riding? “The whole experience was very relaxing. You’re out in beautiful forests, and the instructors were so patient with us – very smiley and encouraging. It was just such a lovely, therapeutic experience!”

For many Members, the time spent grooming the horses was just as rewarding as learning to ride. “Horses can be intimidating for people who haven’t been around them, they are wild animals at the end of the day,” says Jess, “but they’re really humbling. You can’t put up a front when you’re around them. You’ve got to listen to them and start to read them. The great thing is that you have to focus completely on what’s in front of you and forget everything else, so it gives people an opportunity to be in the moment.”

Dan agrees. “It’s hard to describe, but you feel a real bond when you’re putting all the kit on your horse and reassuring it. Then, at the end of the ride, we get to brush them down and let them relax from the weight of us being on them. That in itself is a lovely debrief for you and the horse.

“And it wasn’t just me: one of the guys had to leave early on the last morning so couldn’t take part in the final ride, but he wanted to have a moment with his horse before he left – he just spent 20 minutes talking to it, brushing it and saying goodbye.”

And that is all very much in line with Blesma’s broader aim of helping Members discover interests that last beyond a single activity. “It’s partly about pushing comfort zones. People might think: ‘I can’t horse ride because I’m an amputee,’ ” says Jess, “but it’s also about giving them the chance to try something new and maybe finding a new passion along the way.”

Now that he’s had time to reflect, Dan is more grateful than ever that he made the decision to join Blesma seven years ago. “The experiences I have with Blesma aren’t easily available on my own – they cost a lot of money for a start, but I also get to do them with other people. You find confidence in talking, even if you’re going through a difficult time, because everyone here is real, and the experience itself gives you a sense of freedom. Blesma activities have been some of the highlights of my life!”