Had a lovely time tonight back working at Riding for the Disabled. We had a Christmas party, the ponies wore tinsel and we played some games! Afterwards went out for a meal with the other helpers. I love going back and seeing everyone :)
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| Luke - one of the kindest ponies you will ever meet! |
I'm a bit wary of talking about RDA, don't wanna sound like I'm bragging about my "charidee" work, but in reality I enjoy it so much, it really is a pleasure not a sacrifice. I wanted to write a bit about it because RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) is one of the Telegraph's Christmas Charity Appeals this year, so I thought it would be cool to write my own thing on it and maybe inspire someone to contribute to it!
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| Riding on the Ridgeway |
RDA does a wonderful service to it's riders. Riding is a very effective form of physiotherapy, and helps improve balance and strength as well as confidence. I think, for the kids I help at least, it must be great just to be able to join in a sport fully (a lot of them are not good walkers and would really struggle with most conventional sports) and also be in an environment where they are not labelled as "the disabled one". Riding is open to a whole spectrum of disabilities, some very severe. Seeing themselves improve and learn, and even the basic ability to steer and 'control' such a big animal really boosts confidence. Finally, it's a lot of fun! A lot of the riders have had to go through horrific surgeries and illnesses besides the everyday setbacks they face, so it is wonderful to see them do something which brings so much joy.
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| For those not quite old enough for gymkhanas, a fancy dress competition! |
I started helping with children's lessons at RDA on a Wednesday night when I was about 16 for the Service section of my Duke of Ed award. I ride myself and had spent many a weekend when I was a pony-mad 13 year old providing free labour at my own stables (in the desperate hope of a free ride in return), so really I was completely in my comfort zone helping deal with and lead the horses at RDA. Working with the kids phased me a little more - I think anybody who hasn't had much personal experience around people with disabilities can tend to be a little awkward about it, especially in our Politically Correct centered world. You worry about saying the wrong thing or using the wrong phrase. After a while I learnt just to chill - most of the time it's just about not beating around the bush. If we're doing games for example, you just ask what hand they would prefer to use, or which is their stronger arm. If they're stuggling with something like kicking the horse on, you ask to see if their legs are strong enough to keep trying (if not, most of the ponies respond well to voice, and understand "walk on", "trot on" etc). The kids aren't phased by these kind of questions - I think partly because they know this is an environment they won't be judged in, and they don't feel different to everyone else.
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| Little ones need lots of helpers! |
The disabilities range from Down's Syndrome to blindness to Cerebral Palsey to missing limbs and everything inbetween - though to be honest, we don't tend to focus too much on the condition. A lot of the kids I have known for years and I still couldn't tell you for definite what condition they have - I just know what is needed to know and what their capabilities are. I think this shows how basically we focus on what the kids CAN do, not everything they CAN'T.
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| 'Most improved rider' - most prestigious award at the RDA funday! |
As well as weekly lessons, a lot of other activities go on. Every so often trips are organised, like this week a lot of the kids at my lesson went to Olympia. There is an annual funday, which is basically an open day at the stables, where families are invited to have lunch and watch the riders compete in gymkhanas and obstacle courses, with a prize giving at the end. There is also an annual holiday for the horses on the ridgeway - they go to stay at a farm kindly lent to RDA right out in the countryside. Riders come up every day and take some of the horses out, so it is a lovely opportunity for them to have nice hacks as well. Us helpers are also invited for the odd ride for a thankyou - on the first day we ride the horses out as they tend to be quite excitable, and it's nice for them to be able to go a bit faster with us. A few years ago our RDA branch was invited to the CLA Game Fair to do a display with some of our riders and horses. I was invited along to this to help, which was lots of fun, got to see the other displays as well and also go 'backstage'! There is also an annual sponsored ride at Blenheim Palace. I was invited to ride in this one year on one of the stable's ponies, Piglet. So I hope you can see being a helper comes with a lot of benefits!
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| Charlie and Speckles ready to roll at the CLA Gamefair (at Blenheim Palace) |
I should also mention many of the kids from my lesson also competed at the National Championships this Summer, and did very well at it - so proud of them! It is great they have the opportunity to do such exciting things like this.
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| Laura riding like a pro at the National Championships! |
One of the best things though is just the people - the helpers are all lovely, as is Gwen who leads the lesson. Although a lot of the riders come and go, there are two girls I have known from the start. Olivia was my first rider I ever helped, but now she is too good to need a leader! We are still bessies though and it was lovely to see her today and get a big hug. I started helping her when she was about 7 and she must be 12 now. Nyah is my proper little buddy - she is my regular rider to help as we get on so well (and she went through a stage of being a bit 'brattish' to other helpers...). She gives me pretty much the warmest welcome out of ANYONE whenever I've come home from uni in the hols. She's just started secondary school but when I joined RDA she was about 6 I think. Of course the horses are all wonderful too. Many times I have driven to RDA in a bad mood, tired or stressed or just not motivated. But never once have I failed to get in the car at the end of the night without finding a big smile on my face. It is just a brilliant thing to be involved in and a lovely atmosphere.
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| Leading a little girl at a funday, Gwen is in the yellow |
If you'd like to know more about RDA in general the Telegraph are writing quite a bit about them ATM - here's an intro to the appeal. My particular group is the Abingdon RDA, website here.
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| Support us! |
I hope I have maybe helped you see how great a charity this is and some of the good work they do. Needless to say, horses are very expensive creatures to keep, and my stables alone has 12 of them! Specialist tack is also needed for most of the riders. The riders are charged very little for lessons - nothing compared to what a regular stables would charge. Money for everything basically comes from fundraising.
And if you don't have money, do you have time? They are always looking for more help, and I hope you can see how much fun it is.
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| Piglet having a well deserved rest! |
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