A RURAL south-west school has brought smiles to horse riders with disabilities after donating handmade equipment for new activities.
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Hawkesdale P-12 College students worked for three months on the gadgets, which can test riders to carefully position coloured cans on poles, throw bean bags at a target, and complete a tent-pegging exercise.
Coach Sharyn van Someren said the activities helped with a rider's hand-eye co-ordination, balance and confidence.
"The kids that are going to be using this equipment will get a lot of fun out of it," Ms van Someren said.
Henry Jackson, also a year one student at the school, attends All Abilities Equestrian weekly and proudly showed off his skills to his schoolmates on Tuesday.
"It's awesome," Henry said. "They (haven't) seen me do it before."
Another rider of three years, Warrnambool Special Developmental School student Ashley Holmes, said vaulting was his favourite activity.
"It helps my balance," Ashley said.
Hawkesdale students in years five to ten built the activities as part of their hands on learning subjects, which they do once a week for a full day.
The school's artisan teacher Shannon Drysdale said it was a good way for students to give back.
"We try and keep all our community projects local," Ms Drysdale said.
She said learning outside of the classroom benefited the students too.
"A very small number of these kids only come to school on Tuesdays, we have them engaged for one day of the week," Ms Drysdale said.
"They just like hands on learning, like having a screw driver in their hands rather than a pencil. We cater for everyone though, we have kids who are of all academic abilities."
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