Sponsored ride

My name is Braydon, I am 13 years old.

With your help and support I am hoping to raise £250 towards new football kits and hopefully some equipment. Times and dates of the rides will be released in the next few weeks. All money raised will go directly to the football club Atletico Middleton with my name (Braydon) as reference. Horses have give me the confidence to become a part of a football team and without them I wouldn't be where I am today.

Here is a little bit about my journey.

ME

From the age of 9 I have struggled with my mental health. My struggles began in primary school where I had problems staying focused, struggling with change, hyperactivity and depression. I often did and still did things without thinking of the consequences which often upset or hurt either the people around me or myself.

Mental health in children is becoming a massive issue. There is limited support available which then makes it harder for you to be eligible for any kind of assessments or support. 1 in10 children suffer with some kind of mental health issues, this includes depression, anxiety, and behaviour issues. Studies have shown that 70% of children that experience mental health issues have not had the appropriate support at an age where it matters most. An age where it can shape your attitudes, feelings, and future potential. This is where my journey with horses began.

Horses can be a huge benefit when working with those suffering with mental health issues. Being around and working with horses can help build confidence, communication skills, trust, social skills, impulse control and also learn boundaries. They help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, they increase happiness levels.

As a herd animal horses can sense the feelings of others and have a calming influence. They have become the most popular form of therapy as they give instant feedback to their handler or rider, they have the ability to mirror the feelings of the handler or rider. Research has confirmed that horses can smell specific odours in human sweat that reflect emotions like fear and happiness, which can in turn effect how they respond to you. By understanding a horse's emotions, you are able to begin to understand your own emotions and how to respond to them.

I have made my social media accounts to show other children that feel the same as me that, there is hope and inspiration out there if you want it. You just need to be brave and be prepared to commit to the roller coaster of Feelings and emotions that you will experience, but once you commit to it you will never look back.

I love show jumping. My dream is to compete as much as I can and train in understanding not just about horses but also about riders and what they need to achieve. I have an amazing Irish sports horse called Loki. I am keeping a diary of my experiences of preparing Loki for the show jumping world. From ground work that is needed to backing, breaking and schooling. my diary will show the highs and lows, we need to remember that everything is a learning experience and we can only get better through these experiences. I cannot wait to experience this with Loki.

It has all been made possible by a lovely lady from HOMES FOR HORSES, Wendy. She has given me the opportunity to be able to make my dream come true with Loki who will be known as Shamrock Dream.