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| Newsletter from the RDA
yard. |
This page is
for news and information from the members of the RDA team. The team felt they
would like to contribute to the web site, so they will be writing articles,
stories and sharing their working lives and experiences with you. The RDA team
members include Ruth, Kay, Kelly, Katie, Michael and
Sue. |
| OUR VISIT TO HARTPURY click |
Hi
My
name is Kelly West. I am the RDA Assistant Manager and co-ordinator. My job is
to make sure everybody is happy, that the yard runs well and everything is
safe.
Students/Trainees are now starting to teach RDA lessons under
supervison which give our instruction more variety. I also do a lot of the
teaching myself.
Being a charity organisation the centre relies heavily on
volunteers and I am in charge of organising training days for our helpers. We
are constantly on the look out for new volunteers, so, if anybody who reads
this page is interested please contact us as we would love to hear from
you.
On the 27th January there is a dressage competition for disabled and
able bodied clients. Some of our clients have entered so we wish them
well.
Talk to you later -
Kelly |
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As well as looking
after the horses and the yard one of the main jobs is to get the horses ready
for the many RDA lessons we have during the week, assisting riders on to the
horses and leading the riders in their lessons.
It takes a lot of people to
organise a lesson, the main priority is safety but we also have to ensure that
the horses suit the riders and vice versa.
The majority of riders mount from
a ramp and there can be up to 6 riders in a lesson. We also have riders
who have to be mounted using a hoist, where one of our horses “Paris” stands rock solid while the rider is lowered onto
her back.
Apart from leaders, there are also times when side walkers
are needed, this is to help with the balance of some of our riders. Many of the
leaders and side walkers are volunteers who come up to the centre to help out
for an hour, a couple of hours or stay the whole day.
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Hi, this is the
first installment from your resident supervisor of the RDA yard . My name is
Maxine and it's my job to oversee the general running of the yard and make sure
the 8 horses I look after are ready for all the many classes we have every day
to provide fun for our clients. It is also important to make sure that they are
presentable, tidy and looking well. This doesn't just entail grooming but also
making sure they all get the right balance of foods. This leads me to a new
addition that arrived on Sunday. He's called PANDA and is a 15.1hh Piebald
gelding. Panda has been living out for 6 months which has enabled his mane to
grow to the floor and his coat to become very thick and fluffy. We are
currently trying to book "Nicky Clark" and his "make-over team" from this
morning television to come and work his magic but if this fails I'll have to
resort to my clippers and mane combs!!! (photographic evidence will be
available in the next installment). - Max
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A lot of horses will walk in and
out of your life but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart (I
know it's not original but I thought it was appropriate)
Little Gem has
arrived!
Last seen 3 years ago at Julia's. My favourite little jumping pony,
easy going cheeki chappie with an added bonus -he can pull the
cart!!!
Having started riding at Julias when I was five, little Gem was just
my size (and still is) I have spent many a happy hour trotting, cantering and
jumping on this little horse. I am pleased to see him again and renew our
friendship, long may it last
Katie
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