Watching Katie Archer riding Mojo is an emotional experience.
The little girl is helped onto the horse by three Riding for the Disabled volunteers. Five-year-old Katie no longer has full control of her body, and she starts to thrash her arms down on Mojo, but he remains still and calm.
Then Mojo, assisted by the volunteers, gently takes Katie around the St Heliers Bay Pony Club grounds, while her poppa John watches on proudly.
Katie has Batten Disease, an extremely rare degenerative neurological condition which is ultimately fatal. Over time affected children suffer mental impairment, worsening seizures and progressive loss of sight and motor skills.
Her weekly visit to Riding for the Disabled (RDA) is something Katie dearly loves and John says it means so much to his family that they can build happy memories with their little girl.
The Harcourts Foundation …