|
Post by foxglove on Apr 27, 2012 14:01:05 GMT 1
I'm hoping to start volunteering for an RDA centre soon- the ones in and around London are all over-subscribed so it's hard to get in. It will be with leading, side wallking, horsey chores where needed. The horses and ponies there are proper bombproof dobbins obviously!
I had a vague idea it would be mainly wheelchair users with spinal injuries, but they are able to help people with all sorts of learning difficulties so it will probably be quite eye-opening for me.
Does anyone have any experience with RDA activities and can offer me any tips or thoughts?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2012 14:15:45 GMT 1
I've been a volunteer at my local RDA for about 4 years now and I really enjoy it. You''ll be instructed on how to side walk, lead the horse correctly that sort of thing. It was an eye opener for me and very rewarding to see how the clients cope and how much they enjoy themselves. RDA horse/ponies have to be absolutely bomb proof all round and it can be quite hard sometimes to find the right horse for the job. I hope you manage to get in soon and have a great time!
|
|
|
Post by garej on Apr 27, 2012 19:00:27 GMT 1
I had a vague idea it would be mainly wheelchair users with spinal injuries, but they are able to help people with all sorts of learning difficulties so it will probably be quite eye-opening for me. The RDA is not just for people who are wheelchair bound but for anyone who is considered disabled. Apparently I qualify for the RDA due to my disability but I dont go. I am certainly not wheelchair bound. As for your original question, sorry I cant answer. I did consider helping at my local RDA, but I really wanted hands on stuff which they couldnt offer. Also it isnt the easiest place to get (unless you can drive), so that put me off too.
|
|
|
Post by trixiepony on Apr 28, 2012 0:20:04 GMT 1
I have helped out at RDA and with my disability I can ride to, the ponies and horses are darlings, you get training on how to lead or serport the rider. Both the RDA's I have helped out at did kids manly from the schools ,kids with all the different disabilities for sum it's the mobility Thay love like the ones in wellchers sum like those with spinabifata it's that riding relaxes them the movement helps there mussels then there the mentally challenged darlings for us it's the feeling of accomplishment of finding sumthing you can do it helps with consertrashion following orders , mm I did rambal on didn't I, I hope you can read my post spelling was one off my weke points. Man I was tested about that when I was a kid.
|
|
|
Post by jinglerebel on Apr 28, 2012 1:56:50 GMT 1
I wanted to do this too, but of course the centres were all out in the country and I didn't have transport. It's still something I'd like to do.
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Apr 28, 2012 22:33:33 GMT 1
Good luck foxglove - hope you can get in.
Funnily enough I just found there is a RDA centre close by after thinking the nearest one was 25 miles away, its at a riding school I didnt even know existed and its only about 3 miles away. I think the reason I didnt know about it is that's its on the army camp and caters for the soldiers and soldier's kids, but you can ride there if you're a civilian too. What is also quite funny is that its called....wait for it....The Saddle Club ;D Anyhow I may pop along and have a look some time.
|
|
|
Post by foxglove on May 1, 2012 11:49:05 GMT 1
I wanted to do this too, but of course the centres were all out in the country and I didn't have transport. It's still something I'd like to do. I'm reliant on public transport too. The Centre I'm starting at is about 25 mins walk from a station that has trains every 10 mins into Clapham Junction, so not too bad. They do something called hippotherapy and also carriage driving so lots to discover. The volunteers seem to be mainly retired women, so not much chance of meeting an eligible horsey bachelor with a country pile and stables in the shires. I live in hope!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 1, 2012 14:53:35 GMT 1
Mostly retired ladies at my centre too foxglove, but they do have a rather dishy young blacksmith
|
|