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.
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Barney
One of the Horses at Thornton Rose RDA
News updates for RDA
Monday, 5 November 2007
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12 comments:
I live in aberdeen. Can I get involved with RDA up here?
Hiyah!
What Kind Of Things Do You Do To Excercise Th Ponies?
What Else Do Volunteers Do?
xxxxx
Hi becca, yeah there are several groups in the Grampian area - I have given you the number of the Aberdeen Group RDA: 0845 241 1332
You should be able to contact them to find out more details as this may not be the closest one to you. I got this number off the RDA website(link is below). Hope that helps! :)
Hi nicola, well we tend to warm up our horses by doing a gentle walk to start off with so that the horses leg muscles warm up so no muscles are pulled. As a lot of our riders can only do a few strides of trot, warming up - like what you would do for a normal riding session isn't as essential but you do need to do a little! Doing bending in and out of poles also is a good warm up and it makes the horses concentrate and listen to the rider.
Volunteers, depending on their abilities, will bring in the horses and brush and tack them up in preparation for the riders arriving. When the riders arrive, for some riders they need side-walkers, a leader for the horse and also people on the mounting block - as you can see there are lots of jobs for volunteers to do and hence the reason why it is essential to have permanent volunteers.
Sounds Good
What Kinds Of Things Do Yu have To Be Able To Do To Become A Volunteer?
And What Age?
Thanx
xxxxxxx
To become a volunteer you have to be at least 14 and be able to give up the same time each week as this means that you can be relied on because if there are not enough volunteers then there cannot be a ride!
You do not need to have any knowledge of horses at all as you will be shown everything and there plenty of training days throughout the year.
As a youth vonlunteer myself its great to see somethign like this.
keep up the good work gemma!
xxxx
Hi Gemma,
Well done to make time to write the blog and encourage people to join RDA and become volunteers. I endorse all you have said. It is a great thing to do for us volunteers as well as for the riders.
See you soon,
Jane
i like horse, can i help.
Pettigrew
Yeah sure, "Pettigrew" you can help, if you have a look on the RDA website - there is a link on the blog to find your nearest one! Hope that helps.
People should read this.
Hi Gemma, My name is Leanne and I'm a volunteer at Muirfield RDA. I also do the website and am pleased to see you've added a link in your blog.
Your blog is fantastic and a great way of encouraging new people to get involved with RDA!
Keep up the good work!
Leanne xxx
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