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Fun and freedom for disabled riders

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Local riders

Gill Cure tells us how horse riding can benefit people with disabilities.

RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association, incorporating carriage driving) is proudly celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009/10. Our local RDA group at Seechem Equestrian Centre is one of the founder members and has also been operating for 40 years.

Birgit Morris, chairman of the Seechem RDA, was able to fill me in with some details. She explained that the group is run by volunteers, a group of local ladies who all enjoy working with horses and providing riding opportunities to a number of disabled riders from the area.

Some of the volunteers have been with the group since Barbara Quinney founded it in 1969. Jean Scott, the first Seechem RDA instructor, now lives at Burcot Grange but is still able to visit occasionally. Some of the original riders still ride with the group on a regular basis.

Seechem RDA group offers lessons every Thursday between 1pm and 2pm during term-time. Currently they have a number of regular riders from the Alvechurch and Redditch area, and a group from CPM (Cerebral Palsy Midlands centre, based in Harborne).

Birgit says, “We can take a wide age range of riders from children (six years is the minimum age) to adults. Some of our riders, who are now in their 50s and 60s, have been coming for more than 30 years. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate riders who need a hoist to mount the horse, or riders in excess of 13 stone.”

Seechem Equestrian Centre allows the group to use their most suitable horses and their facilities. The horses need to have a very kind temperament and calm nature. Riders are able to use the indoor facilities over the winter months and the outdoor reinage and fields for hacking out over the summer.

Riding offers disabled people a great sense of freedom if they normally rely on wheelchairs or crutches for mobility. As well as being really good fun, it improves balance and muscle tone. The riders learn to connect and care for something alive.

The RDA has introduced proficiency badges and certificates in horse care and riding. Most of the Seechem members have achieved grade one in horse care and riding. The riders also look forward to a variety of activities over the year, including a musical ride, gymkhana games, a dressage competition and annual picnic.

The group relies on volunteer helpers, as each rider requires a helper to lead the horse and support the rider. The group would appreciate more volunteers for Thursday lunchtimes – with some horse experience, and fit enough for a bit of jogging! If you are interested please contact Birgit Morris on 01527 592089 or Gill Laidler on 0121 445 1511.

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