Ann Gordon and Sheila MacDonald from Northern Scotland Local Pension Service recently spent a day volunteering with The Riding for the Disabled Association through a Community 5000 placement. 

The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has more than 500 member groups throughout the UK. The Moray group was established in 1971 and is based at the Cranloch Riding Centre, near Elgin. This is ideal as it gives the group access to both indoor and outdoor facilities.

They are a small band of dedicated volunteers with 2 qualified instructors who run riding lessons for up to 70 less-abled riders of all age groups, both children and adults. Initially riders need to have three volunteers, one to lead the horse and the others at the rider’s side. The group runs 2 sessions per week, on a Wednesday (all day) and Monday evenings.

Ann Gordon enthused; - “The riders gain a lot from their lessons and they really develop a sense of achievement. We could see how much fun and pleasure they gain from their riding.  They really enjoy learning a new skill and making new friends.  Riding helps them become physically stronger.  It improves posture, concentration and communication skills as well as developing their confidence.  We spent a whole day with them and had a great time.  It gave us an insight into the fantastic work the instructors and volunteers do with the riders”.  

Sheila agreed: - “A helper is one of the most important members of the RDA team.  Ann and I were shattered after our day volunteering!  It was hard work but a very worthwhile placement.  We walked miles! We did a range of things from shovelling horse manure, helping riders to stay on the horse, to moving equipment”.