Riders' stories
FINLEY'S MUM
Finley loves riding and likes to cuddle Ben. It helps him physically and mentally. When he first started he could not hold his body up and would lay along Ben's neck but he is much stronger now and can sit up. He recognises when he is coming to lessons and gets excited.
BETHANY'S MUM
Riding helps with Bethany's core strength which has improved dramatically so that she can now hold herself up. It is calming and amazing and she loves it.
CALLUM'S MUM
When Callum first started riding he would not get on Bertie, he just sat and stroked him but now he has gained more confidence and his eyesight problems do not seem to affect him. Callum talks about Bertie all the time and is always saying 'walk on'! Riding has improved his core strength and he sits up better. He is also starting to listen to the instructions.
Finley loves riding and likes to cuddle Ben. It helps him physically and mentally. When he first started he could not hold his body up and would lay along Ben's neck but he is much stronger now and can sit up. He recognises when he is coming to lessons and gets excited.
BETHANY'S MUM
Riding helps with Bethany's core strength which has improved dramatically so that she can now hold herself up. It is calming and amazing and she loves it.
CALLUM'S MUM
When Callum first started riding he would not get on Bertie, he just sat and stroked him but now he has gained more confidence and his eyesight problems do not seem to affect him. Callum talks about Bertie all the time and is always saying 'walk on'! Riding has improved his core strength and he sits up better. He is also starting to listen to the instructions.
LINDA
Riding is my life, I am obsessed with it! I would rather ride than anything and I would like to be able to ride 3 times a week. Horses are magic, you can bury your head in their mane and take in their smell.
I used to have my own horse but then didn’t ride for many years. Following a stroke I ended up with depression but I had a good GP who let me talk and saw how my face lit up when I talked about horses. The GP suggested I join Riding for the Disabled and a friend found me a phone number for a group based at Brinsbury College. I joined this group and 2 years later the group moved to Bridge House in Slindon. When they lost their instructor Simon (our current instructor) came as a temporary instructor. I asked him if he would give me a place at the Arundel RDA. Because of the waiting list, I helped to make the tea and if someone did not come to a session then I got a ride. Riding has given me my life back; it is very therapeutic being around horses and the exercises help to loosen me up.
Sultan gave me my confidence back, he is so smooth and comfortable a ride – I could even do a sitting trot! Sultan is now needed for another rider so I now ride Rhufus.
I am grateful that Joy and Alison allow us to use their horses for RDA sessions and I do hope that a new A27 Arundel bypass would not affect the stables in any way.
Riding is my life, I am obsessed with it! I would rather ride than anything and I would like to be able to ride 3 times a week. Horses are magic, you can bury your head in their mane and take in their smell.
I used to have my own horse but then didn’t ride for many years. Following a stroke I ended up with depression but I had a good GP who let me talk and saw how my face lit up when I talked about horses. The GP suggested I join Riding for the Disabled and a friend found me a phone number for a group based at Brinsbury College. I joined this group and 2 years later the group moved to Bridge House in Slindon. When they lost their instructor Simon (our current instructor) came as a temporary instructor. I asked him if he would give me a place at the Arundel RDA. Because of the waiting list, I helped to make the tea and if someone did not come to a session then I got a ride. Riding has given me my life back; it is very therapeutic being around horses and the exercises help to loosen me up.
Sultan gave me my confidence back, he is so smooth and comfortable a ride – I could even do a sitting trot! Sultan is now needed for another rider so I now ride Rhufus.
I am grateful that Joy and Alison allow us to use their horses for RDA sessions and I do hope that a new A27 Arundel bypass would not affect the stables in any way.
ADULT RIDER
I love riding with the RDA and it' the highlight of my week.
I first learned about the RDA following an accident which resulted in my spending considerable time in a specialist Burns Unit.
I needed physical help to continue the medical work that was done. I was in need of a great deal of emotional support. What I discovered was all that and a whole lot more.
The RDA is of course about riding. Well primarily it's about having a relationship with a horse and I have discovered the innate sensibility of these beautiful animals. I started riding with no saddle, just a fleece and the physical connection with the horse was amazing.
Since then I have learned and gained so much.
The volunteers who basically 'are' the RDA are amazing. They are caring, compassionate, they have an attitude that makes you feel you 'can do'! They mop up my tears from time to time and they make me laugh. Really laugh. They also teach me so much about riding and horses and I love learning because riding, well horses, have made such an enormous difference to me. They are so sensitive and intelligent and responsive and intuitive. I often feel the horse I'm riding reads my mood.
The RDA is an amazing body of people and horses who bring so much well being to so many and we all take pride in everyone's achievements. That's something that is so lovely. We all feel so chuffed when someone makes some progress big or small. We riders delight in each other's achievements and support each other when we are not feeling great or sad or worried or physically unable to do something.
I am eternally grateful to the RDA for transforming my so damaged life and for encouraging me and teaching me, giving me a sense of achievement and fulfilment, showing me the wonderful connection I can have with a horse, making me smile and laugh.
Well, that to me is the RDA.
I love riding with the RDA and it' the highlight of my week.
I first learned about the RDA following an accident which resulted in my spending considerable time in a specialist Burns Unit.
I needed physical help to continue the medical work that was done. I was in need of a great deal of emotional support. What I discovered was all that and a whole lot more.
The RDA is of course about riding. Well primarily it's about having a relationship with a horse and I have discovered the innate sensibility of these beautiful animals. I started riding with no saddle, just a fleece and the physical connection with the horse was amazing.
Since then I have learned and gained so much.
The volunteers who basically 'are' the RDA are amazing. They are caring, compassionate, they have an attitude that makes you feel you 'can do'! They mop up my tears from time to time and they make me laugh. Really laugh. They also teach me so much about riding and horses and I love learning because riding, well horses, have made such an enormous difference to me. They are so sensitive and intelligent and responsive and intuitive. I often feel the horse I'm riding reads my mood.
The RDA is an amazing body of people and horses who bring so much well being to so many and we all take pride in everyone's achievements. That's something that is so lovely. We all feel so chuffed when someone makes some progress big or small. We riders delight in each other's achievements and support each other when we are not feeling great or sad or worried or physically unable to do something.
I am eternally grateful to the RDA for transforming my so damaged life and for encouraging me and teaching me, giving me a sense of achievement and fulfilment, showing me the wonderful connection I can have with a horse, making me smile and laugh.
Well, that to me is the RDA.
NOAH D
I had never ridden before and now I have been riding for 3 years. I have ridden Rupert and Harold and I have recently gone up a class. This means that I can learn to canter which I am looking forward to.
Riding has helped the structure of my body and helped improve my core and my arm and leg problems.
I enjoyed learning stable management even though it meant that I had to do homework! I also enjoyed the Big Event because I got to watch some of the riders from the other classes and it was a chance to test my ability against the others in my class and I won the Ferdy Trophy because of my improvement.
I really miss riding during the school holidays or when I am unable to ride but it is still enjoyable to sit and watch the others and be around the horses.
I had never ridden before and now I have been riding for 3 years. I have ridden Rupert and Harold and I have recently gone up a class. This means that I can learn to canter which I am looking forward to.
Riding has helped the structure of my body and helped improve my core and my arm and leg problems.
I enjoyed learning stable management even though it meant that I had to do homework! I also enjoyed the Big Event because I got to watch some of the riders from the other classes and it was a chance to test my ability against the others in my class and I won the Ferdy Trophy because of my improvement.
I really miss riding during the school holidays or when I am unable to ride but it is still enjoyable to sit and watch the others and be around the horses.
KIRI
Knowing that I have riding sessions to look forward to makes the school week more enjoyable and I miss the sessions when we have school holidays or I have to miss a session. Sometimes I am not able to ride but I can watch the others – it is not as good but at least I can still go to the stables and see the horses.
Being able to ride again means that I can get close to the horses and relate to them in a way that makes me forget about any problems I may have. I have ridden George, Dublin and Sultan but my favourite was George.
I enjoyed doing the stable management course and getting a certificate as well as the Big Event at the end of term and I think I would like to have more contact with horses throughout my life.
Knowing that I have riding sessions to look forward to makes the school week more enjoyable and I miss the sessions when we have school holidays or I have to miss a session. Sometimes I am not able to ride but I can watch the others – it is not as good but at least I can still go to the stables and see the horses.
Being able to ride again means that I can get close to the horses and relate to them in a way that makes me forget about any problems I may have. I have ridden George, Dublin and Sultan but my favourite was George.
I enjoyed doing the stable management course and getting a certificate as well as the Big Event at the end of term and I think I would like to have more contact with horses throughout my life.
CODY
I enjoy riding very, very, very, very much! It is the only thing that I do that I really enjoy and I get to miss my 2 least favourite lessons!
It helps with my posture and makes my muscles stronger and I really miss it during the holidays and when I can't come.
I first rode Ivan then Conker, Charlie, Fred and Dublin who is my favourite. I did the stable management course and got a certificate but I enjoy the riding best.
My Mum is a good rider and we would like to be able to go riding together in the New Forest. My ambition and dream would be to represent Great Britain in the dressage competition at the Olympics.
I enjoy riding very, very, very, very much! It is the only thing that I do that I really enjoy and I get to miss my 2 least favourite lessons!
It helps with my posture and makes my muscles stronger and I really miss it during the holidays and when I can't come.
I first rode Ivan then Conker, Charlie, Fred and Dublin who is my favourite. I did the stable management course and got a certificate but I enjoy the riding best.
My Mum is a good rider and we would like to be able to go riding together in the New Forest. My ambition and dream would be to represent Great Britain in the dressage competition at the Olympics.
