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Turning Things Around - Fiona (Fee) Stevenson Awarded Second Place in RDA Creative Writing Competition 2025

Fiona (Fee) Stevenson, a regular Guest Blogger for PhysioPod® UK has been awarded second place in the RDA Creative Writing Competition 2025. Fee shares her deeply personal journey at the Cavalier Centre, recounting the challenges and raw emotions of accepting that physical horse riding was no longer possible. However, by adapting and embracing carriage driving, supported by encouraging volunteers, Fee found joy, built confidence, and made great progress.

RDA Creative Writing Competition

Listen on Audio (1 of 2)

Image Description: The image features Fee Stevenson and a member of the support team at The Cavalier Centre seated on a horse-drawn carriage in an indoor riding arena. The individual on the right is holding the reins, actively guiding the horse, while both are dressed in warm clothing, including helmets and boots. The person on the left is wrapped in a bright pink blanket. The arena itself is spacious, with a high ceiling featuring skylights that allow natural light to filter through. The sandy ground is marked with orange cones, possibly for training exercises. Along the sides, white barriers and a wooden fence provide structure to the space. It’s an engaging scene showcasing the equestrian discipline of carriage driving, a skill that requires coordination and precision.

 

Bang! The house shook as the door slammed.

“What’s the matter with her?”

“Give her a minute.” Said one of the carers, “It is another challenge she has to face and come to terms with.”

“Oh dear, she does have a lot to deal with.”

“She was put on Perry the mechanical horse to be assessed to ride a pony, and it didn’t go to plan.”

“The Cavalier Centre staff had to undo the girth to get her off backwards; it took several of them to help. However, they have found a couple of possible activities. You know her; she sets her heart on something, and when it doesn’t go to plan, that’s when we have to deal with the fallout. She will mull it over and accept it, especially if we all give a positive vibe about the other possibilities. She is on her way back in."

"If there had been a video camera, the Cavalier Centre could have sent the footage to 'You’ve Been Framed' of me attempting to get off Perry."

“That’s the spirit.” 

“The options are side saddle riding or carriage driving. I am going to look into side saddle, as I really want to be back on a horse. I have tried carriage driving at the centre; all the volunteers are so helpful and encouraging with that. I did enjoy it.”

Looking between the pony’s ears, the sound of the hooves hitting the gravel, the feeling of the reins in my hands and having someone encouraging me gently to guide the pony where we needed to go. My reins were attached to the head collar.  I was sat in my wheelchair in the carriage. The lovely black and silver tail shining in the sun as Sion trotted on. Ahead of us was another carriage with Finn, a lovely brown pony with an ebony tail. Everyone enjoying the sun.

 

As the carriages pass visitors, they stop and wave, watching in awe as they say, “Wow, what fun in the sun.”

The tears started falling again, the anger creeping back in at the lack of mobility and skills to ever physically ride a pony again.

“Come on, treasure the memories – not everyone gets the chance to carriage ride, so you have achieved and done things others envy.”

“I just want everything instantly. I know it is not feasible right now. I am sorry to be negative, but I had built my hopes up. Accepting what I can’t do is a huge challenge, but I will try to focus on what I can do.

 

 “Do you remember that day? Now look at you."

Wearing pink, clutching my pink blanket, beaming away as I am back at the Cavalier Centre, the hooves clipping on the gravel, the laughter of the volunteers as they chat, help and support all of us along the way. Finn in front of me, his coat clipped, enjoying himself at his pace. A huge smile on my face.

 

About Fiona (Fee) Stevenson

Listen on Audio 2 of 2

The image captures Fiona (Fee) Stevenson sitting in a wheelchair on a stage, holding a microphone. Fee is dressed in a black and white patterned sweater, a white shirt, and red gloves. The stage is brightly lit, with metal trusses framing the background, suggesting that this might be a performance or public speaking event. There's a sense of engagement and presence, as the Fee appears to be actively participating in the moment.

Fiona Stevenson, who prefers to be called Fee, took part in a carriage driving session while attending a STEPS course (well-being and horse care) at the Cavalier Centre in 2021.

Fee had to accept that riding a horse was not achievable due to her physical disabilities.

Fee is willing to adapt and take on new challenges.

Fee has been able to progress in carriage driving using the bit and been able to sit directly in the carriage without her wheelchair with assistance from the volunteers at the Cavalier Centre and her care team.

In her first session, she was pushed up a ramp in her manual wheelchair and was driving using a head collar on the reins.

Carriage driving has helped increase Fee's confidence in other aspects of her life too.

Fee is an inspirational speaker who advocates to improve access for all and she has been a Macmillan reviewer since 2006, she reviews booklets, webpages, brochures and leaflets.

 

About The Cavalier Centre

The image is the logo of the Cavalier Centre. It features a green outline drawing of a horse's head, with the horse's flowing mane forming a circular shape around it. Below the horse's head, the name "Cavalier Centre" is displayed in green, followed by the tagline "Enriching and Empowering Lives Through Horses" in smaller green text. This logo beautifully represents the Centre's mission of improving lives through interactions with horses.

The Cavalier Centre is a non-profit equestrian centre located in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. Its core belief is that horses make a difference in people's lives. Jane Barker founded the centre as the Perry Riding for the Disabled Group in 1995. After outgrowing its original site, the group moved to Bradeley Farm outside Much Wenlock, a move made possible with support from the Willey Estate and particularly Catherine Lady Forester and her daughter Selina Graham.  The new build Cavalier Centre was officially opened in April 2019 by HRH The Princess Royal. The centre aims to improve lives through activities based around horses and ponies, such as riding, carriage driving, and vaulting, and strives to be a centre of excellence for wellbeing and equestrianism. The Cavalier Centre is run by a dedicated community including volunteers, staff, trustees, participants, and supporters. It relies on donations, with every penny raised going towards running the centre and providing activities.

 

Read more from Fiona (Fee) Stevenson

 

Tags: #FionaFeeStevenson #RDACreativeWriting #PhysioPodUK #CavalierCentre #CarriageDriving #AdaptiveEquestrian #OvercomingChallenges #InspirationalStory #VolunteerPower #WellbeingJourney