ANIMAL-lovers from Warwick Rotary Club have been meeting the neighbours.
The rotarians paid a visit to the new Riding for the Disabled Head Office and Training Centre in Shrewley, where they were given a tour.
RDA UK is now based at Lowlands Farm, a site formerly owned by Ro Pudden MBE who established the original Lowlands Equestrian riding stables in the 1970’s. Ro was trainer for the first paralympic dressage team to compete in Atlanta in 1996.
RDA moved to Lowlands in 2019 shortly before the pandemic hit, occupying a new purpose built building, as well as the stables, indoor arena and outside training area. They welcome coaches and volunteers from across the nationwide organisation.
The yard is also home to three local RDA groups who use the horses and equestrian facilities on a regular basis.
There are 413 individual RDA groups around the country, run by over 13,000 volunteers who work with around 17,000 disabled children and adults. RDA participants find riding, carriage driving and being with horses provides a host of therapeutic benefits – from improving physical strength and co-ordination to helping with mental well-being.
Warwick Rotary recently made a donation of £1,000 to RDA from a legacy left them by the estate of founder member Paul Reynolds, who used to farm locally, and his wife Janet who was a volunteer at Lowlands RDA.
Members of the club also helped RDA install a mechanical horse, called Charley, ten years ago. Charley enables new riders to be assessed and overcome their fears before getting into the saddle.
For more information about RDA or to donate visit www.rda.org.uk
