Another successful year for RDA participants

STUDENTS celebrated their wonderful achievements as part of the final session for the 2024 Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria (RDA) year.

Congratulations: RDA participants received sashes in celebration of their year of accomplishment and achievement.

Students from Hampden Specialist School again this year took part in weekly outings at the Glenormiston College Equestrian Centre during the season thanks to the efforts of RDA volunteers bringing along their ponies.

Volunteer Sylvia Brown said she was delighted last week to see the participants beaming as they received their celebratory sashes after a thorough adjudication process, which noted their personal growth and development over the course of the season.

“The horses were all presented with a cake because it was our first day since August 1 (the traditional birthday for horses in the southern hemisphere),” she said.

“The kids then voted for their favourite horse, which was Gainsey in a fitting send off before his retirement.

“The kids were all presented with sashes for various achievements, which they had all worked so hard towards.”

While the joys of trotting around on a pony under the careful supervision of the team of volunteers may feel like fun for the kids, the program has a lengthy list of proven therapeutic benefits which enhance their physical and mental skills while also providing a sense of confidence and accomplishment.

Horse riding helps the kids develop their coordination and balance, strengthen muscles, build social connections and friendships, emotional discipline, sense of wellbeing, hand/eye coordination and more.

Happy birthday: RDA participants fed ponies cakes in a celebration of the traditional standardised birthday for horses in Australia.

“Our season has gone very well,” Mrs Brown said.

“The joy of it all is to see the kids who start off scared but grow their confidence to be riding, and riding happily.

“They’re all progressing, all enthusiastic and, for a lot of them, it’s their favourite day of the week.

“We had one who required a cushion but now he’s sitting up.

“There is always one kid, every session, where you have a moment which reinforces why we do this.”

Volunteer Heather Rowe thanked her fellow volunteers for giving up their time to make the event possible.

“Thank you all so much for another fantastic year,” she said.

“We’ve got some great horses, and next year we’ll be looking for more as we have some retiring.

“We’ll be desperate for horses to carry on the important work we’re able to do for these kids.

“Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’re able to volunteer a horse if you could bring it along to sessions for a few hours each week.”

Mrs Rowe said volunteering for RDA brought a wonderful feeling of reward, seeing kids who live with a disability develop their skills to live a happier, fuller life.

“We always say to people that we do it for the children,” she said.

“We recently had one of the kids was picking up things and putting them in the box, which she had previously struggled with, so it’s wonderful to see how far some of the kids have come.”

Anyone who owns a pony and would be interested in volunteering for RDA next year is invited to contact Mrs Rowe on 0407 992 081.