Epsom Riding for the Disabled News


Well its 2008 and we are off to a cracking start. So far our donations this year have amounted to approx £6000.00, with thanks to Ashtead Hospital and to The White Horse Pub, Dorking Road Epsom, who were the biggests sponsors in January and February Well done to these two sponsors for raising so much money for us.

We have purchased a new pony Silver who is a 13.3 Welsh pony, he is being used with the riding sessions now and is proving to be very popular as he looks so pretty. Photos of Silver will be appearing on the website in due course.

The replacing of the old Victorian sewers has been completed which means we are totally independent from St Ebbas Hospital on that score.

During 2007 we had a mixed year, mainly due to the weather and to foot and mouth disease. Some of our events were cancelled some went on despite the rain; however the riders and volunteers still manage to smile through adversity.

Sadly we said goodbye to Oliver who was a much loved pony and knew his job so well, he is still very much missed. Hoppy has gone back to his owners as though he tried his best the RDA life did not suit him. We are grateful to his owners for the time he was here. Two of our volunteers are keeping in touch as they loved him so much. Finnigan also did not settle well and is going to a lovely stables near his owner. We have a pony on trial at the moment called Lottie, and we hope the trail period works out satisfactorily.

Exciting news in2008 is the 30th anniversary of Epsom Riding for the Disabled being sites at St Ebbas Farm and 2009 will be the 40th Anniversary of Riding for the Disabled offering rides to disabled children and adults in Epsom. We are hoping to celebrate these events throughout this year and with something special for 2009, all help and suggestions are welcome.

In June 2007 we took a record number of riders to the All England Show Jumping Ground at Hickstead, they all had a marvelous time and most were placed in their classes. From here two of our riders qualified for Hartpury National competition. They both did really well Jack on Charlie and Elizabeth on Monteith Marigold completed the Walk in the Country ride successfully and both gained over 90% in their stable management quiz. Jack riding Charlie came 7th in his class, out of 52 riders well done to both riders and both ponies.

The South East Regional committee does a great job in organizing this qualifying dressage event for all disabled riders in the South East. Many thanks to the Bunn family for giving our riders the opportunity to use the International Arenas at Hickstead. Many able bodied riders would love to ride there too!

We have a full programme of events for 2008 which you can find in the events section on the menu.

The sponsored ride will be an open ride on 15th July and our riders will be able to ride within Horton Country Park during their sessions.

The thirteen riding sessions per week are going from strength to strength; each session has their own community of riders and volunteers who enjoy the horses, ponies and social side of being involved with Epsom RDA. During these sessions riders progress their riding and stable management skills by training for their grade tests and to compete in both in-house and open competition.

Epsom RDA would like to thank all riders, parents, carers and sponsors of Epsom RDA for all their support and hard work over the year and especially to our band of over 250 volunteers who do a sterling job in instructing, helping with rides, clearing the fields, maintaining the land and all the admin that goes with running Epsom Riding for the Disabled.


Stella Milne

Chairperson