RDA - why I and so many others help...

RDA's aim is "to provide disabled people with the opportunity to ride and/or carriage drive to benefit their health and well being"

The RDA to myself is the most beneficiary thing I could ever have done as the looks on the riders faces when they are on their horses - yes their horses, with some disabilities repetition is essential so we keep the riders on the same horses.

I have been horse-riding since I was 6 or so and did lessons for many years and now I've got 3 horses and even though I love them to pieces - they can drive me mad with injuries or just rolling so much that their grey coats turn a lovely muddy brown colour! I have enjoyed being around horses so much and my weeks work experience at school (feels like a long time ago) at the local RDA in Summerston, Glasgow made me want to find my local RDA so that I can bring smiles to more faces! I have had so much fun and enjoyment of being with my horses and helping at Thornton Rose RDA.

You don't have to be someone who is knowledgeable about horses or have any experience as it is hands on and everyone I know are still learning everyday when they are with horses! There are various training days - I have only been to one which was at Muirfield RDA, to be honest I don't know how often the training days are as I have only been at Thronton Rose RDA for a short while.

The riders themselves at various RDA's have left stories on the national RDA website, click on the link to read their stories: http://riding-for-disabled.org.uk/Stories.aspx

If you, like me would love to spend more time with horses (my horses are in Stirling) there is a share-the-care scheme at Thronton Rose where for a small fee (this covers some of the fees for the horse) you have a share in the horse you get on well with if you are accepted for the scheme and you exercise and give general care to the horses, a bond is developed, nothing is more rewarding.

If you have a horse, are a volunteer or part of the share-the-care scheme please leave a comment on anything you do with your horses or RDA.