WITH TV actor Martin Clunes on the guest list TheHorseCourse's Christmas party was always going to be that little bit different.

And it was certainly that, with tinsel-clad horses being asked to get round obstacles by youngsters who have benefited from the charity started by Harriet Laurie from Askerswell.

Martin Clunes, along with Lord Knight of Weymouth, is a patron of TheHorseCourse, and he was at the party on Monday at the charity's HQ in Rodden to hand out rosettes and hear from the youngsters themselves just what they've gained from doing the five-day course.

Harriet said: "It was a lovely afternoon. Martin was so brilliant.

"We had 20-something kids here, some of the ones who have been this year from various different schools.

"They dressed up the ponies in loads of tinsel and then they took turns doing an obstacle course and they each got a rosette from Martin Clunes for doing a clear round and everyone was a winner - every single one of them succeeded.

"There were one or two who were really, really shy and anxious but they did it even so.

Harriet said Martin was impressed.

She said: "Martin said that each time he comes and sees us and meets the young people we work with he understands much better the need for our work.

"And the kids themselves were explaining to him why it was important for them where talking hadn't helped them but what they did with us really did, getting them back into school and some of the for the first time being able to make friends and manage their anxiety."

Martin also heard from Juli Neesam of Thomas Hardye's School in Dorchester

Harriet added: "He was very impressed with what she had to say.

"She was explaining about some of the children they'd sent who had been so anxious they literally could not speak.

"She said it was just remarkable to see them here today interacting with the other kids, performing in front of an audience, talking to Martin and even getting selfies with him.

"She said to see them acting like normal teenagers is just the most fantastic thing they can hope for.

"It was great way to end a really important year for us.

"We have worked with 140 people who were really stuck who nothing else was working for.

"It is fantastic to be able to help those people to enjoy their lives like everybody else."