ADHD jockey visits school to inspire students

A jockey with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has visited a school for children with special educational needs to talk about her experiences.

Lilly Pinchin, from Cheltenham, took her horse Joey to the SGS Pegasus School in Patchway, South Gloucestershire.

"With my ADHD, I struggled for years and years with it, and animals are incredible. Having them here will hopefully help the children later in life, or maybe even get them into animals," she said.

Assistant head teacher Alexei Ivanovich told the BBC it was an "enriching experience for the students to meet a professional jockey who's both female and neurodivergent."

During the visit, the students got the chance to use an equicizer, a mechanical horse which helps jockeys build strength and balance.

Ivanovich said the school wanted to show their students that autism and ADHD "doesn't put a ceiling on what they can achieve".

"The students were just so engaged, so inspired by the animals, it's something that's going to live in their memory forever," he added.

Pinchin told the BBC that horses have a calming effect on her, and help her to manage her ADHD.

"I always say when I'm on a horse, I feel like every problem in the world goes away," she said.

Pegasus student Jack said he loved riding on the mechanical horse.

"I got a rosette for riding it, and I loved meeting Joey. It was really interesting seeing that in school," he said.

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