Horsing around is such good fun

Katarina Williams | 25th May 2009

Benedict Larkin loves the feeling of being on a horse.

The 6-year-old St Mary's Catholic School pupil was among a group of young haemophilia sufferers yesterday who proved their condition doesn't mean they have to be wrapped up in cotton wool.

Members of the Haemophilia Foundation of New Zealand's Midland branch, which includes members from as far as Opotiki and the Coromandel, got the chance to go riding Rotorua's Paradise Valley Ventures Horse Treks.

 "I trotted and I just rode the horses ... I like the feeling. I talk to the horses and animals and I like playing with them," Benedict said. Also there yesterday was 10-year-old Courtney Marjoribanks who, unable to ride, was more than content to groom the horses in the stables. Courtney, her mother and her sister have von Willebrand's Disease - a rare blood clotting disease.

While some sports, like netball and hockey, are out for Courtney, she said she played soccer and took part in physical education classes at St Michael's Catholic School.

Haemophilia Foundation spokeswoman Catriona Gordon said there was a common misconception that haemophilia sufferers could die from just a small cut.

"This is certainly not the case. The availability of treatment now has improved the health of people with haemophilia vastly, and enabled them to participate in most sports without fear of injury," she said.