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