I SAW A CHILD 

I saw a child who could not walk
Sit on a horse, laugh and talk.
Then ride it through a field of daisies
And yet he could not walk unaided.

I saw a child, no legs below
Sit on a horse and make it go
Through woods of green
And places he had never been
To sit and stare
Except from a chair.

I saw a child who could only crawl
Mount a horse and sit up tall. 
Then put it through degrees of paces
And laugh at the wonder in our faces.

I saw a child born into strife
Take up and hold the reins of life
And that same child was heard to say
Thank God for showing me the way!...

Copyright. John Anthony Davies
Dedicated to Riding for the Disabled International 1964 

I CAN

I cannot walk or run or play a game of tennis every day 
I cannot dance or ride a bike, I'll never know what skating's like
I have no soccer boots or ball, they are no use to me at all
I'll never ski the waves or snow, so many thrills I'll never know

I'll never sail the wind or surf, or chase a ball across the turf
Nor climb the snow capped peaks above, so many things I long to love
But I Can ride through forest trails and view the fox and rabbit's tails
And watch the geese and ducks in flight while leaping stags and deer take fright

And I Can follow mountain tracks past climbers weighted down with packs
And trace a river to it's source above the clouds and feel the force
Yes I enjoy the "Sport of Kings", when carried high my feet take wings
To fly me on a pleasure course, for I CAN mount and ride a horse!....

Copyright; John Anthony Davies.
Dedicated to the Canadian Therapuetic Riding Association 1989