Riding for Disabled winds up for the holidays
Amidst the hustle and bustle of riders, parents and horses at this year’s Christmas do, Riding for Development coach Judy Ray nods confirmation that the organisation is going strong.
“The children learned vaulting this year and they have been doing really well. They learned to stand on a horse or lie across it, and this takes a lot of balance and trust to do and somehow to get through the fear.
“Some kids don’t ride for a few weeks when they first come to RDA because they are scared, so we sit and watch and get them to touch the horses, and if it takes three weeks before they ride, so what?”
Judy is an RDA veteran, having worked for 19 years in various roles alongside vice-president Snow Wells, a volunteer for 15 years. Both have supported RDA through the organisation’s ups and downs in that time.
Judy and Snow have also received a lot of training, and Judy says she is finally feeling that she is getting somewhere.
“We are quite lucky against the rest of the Top of the South that we do not have the children with really difficult problems. We help kids with their learning, we play lots of games with them at RDA and we help them through transitions as well. One person needed to learn about money, so we bought play money and set up little shops in the arena and he had to ride around buying things. Another one could not tell the time, so we made a giant clock and the child had to be the hands of the clock. Unfortunately we are not set up to do adults as well, because there is a weight ratio for the horses and rider.”
Today RDA has 15 riders and lots of volunteers, including some younger school-aged helpers. The three RDA horses are in good health and have been sent on their summer holidays. “The horses are doing different things over the summer. They have to destress just as much as the volunteers do, and will not be back before next year,” said Judy.
A large part of RDA’s funding comes from organisations such as Rural Women NZ, which has provided substantial funds for training. Other individuals have donated money or hay, and without their help RDA would really struggle, says Judy. The Government does back up the organisation with financial support, and Nelson-based Internal Affairs adviser Shane Graham was invited to join the Christmas party to see how the Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) money was being spent.
“It is a lovely day and this is a fantastic example of a volunteer-driven, need-based organisation showing that it is worthwhile to support active participation. Organisations such as RDA only exist when people participate and it is great to see so many people here today. The volunteers do a great job,” he said.
Based on her personal experience, parent Barbara Spooner finds that RDA is giving the young riders a renewed belief in themselves. Since her own child joined last year, she has seen a positive change in her daughter’s wellbeing and the contact with the horses has helping with her mood swings and stress.
“My daughter has been developing her confidence and self-esteem and the riding has helped her to overcome many emotional problems. It is great to see happiness in her life, a joie de vivre, and RDA is something she looks forward to every week. Having contact with the horses and helping with caring for an animal has been a good therapy for her,” said Barbara. “It is wonderful for the Bay to have such a facility and they need as much support as possible.”
Enquiries or offers of help can be directed to Judy Ray, at 525 8175.
Ina Holst
