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RIDING FOR DISABLED QLD
April 2018 newsletter
Hi everyone and welcome to 2018! I know it’s March already and the year is zipping by ...... Some centres have not returned to riding yet and others are back in the swing of things. I hope everyone has had a relaxing break and are feeling inspired for the new riding year. Diana is a busy bee in the office getting the new year organised. I ask that you support her by way of communication. Di is doing an amazing job and I am thankful for her enthusiasm for her position. She intends to visit as many centres as possible to build a great relationship between our centres and the state office. Our new Board Member, Jo Fricker, is doing great work with marketing, planning some exciting partnerships and fundraisers for this year. So stay turned for more information. We intend to publish a newsletter bi-monthly and do a feature article on our centres. Please share your successes with us so we can share the love around. Dates for your diary 15th and 16th July – state championships – QSEC Look out for more information on our website and emails. Until next time safe riding. Trish Hollis President RDAQ
Skype and phone coach training is now up and running again for the new year! The feedback from last year’s
attendees has been fabulous. I'm really pleased to be in touch with the new trainee coaches & support them up
to assessment.
Skype sessions are run the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the month, please get in touch to register & receive a
schedule & notifications.
Looking forward to catching up with everyone over the course of the year.
Kind regards
Sunrise
A snapshot of Samford RDA…. Samford RDA commenced operations in 2007, and so last year we celebrated our 10th anniversary. We have
progressed from a grassed, fenced 40 x 20m arena (and nothing else!), to a covered 60 x 20m arena and attached
covered mounting yard, with associated office/volunteer shed, storage containers, tack shed and currently 12
wonderful horses. We are fortunate to be situated in a very quiet, picturesque setting, which we lease from the
Samford Show Society, and agist our horses on site. We own some of our horses outright, and others are on free
lease from generous owners. They all have sponsors, which helps greatly with their expenses.
We average about 75 riders per year, supported by over 60 volunteers. Lessons are conducted on Wednesdays
(Special Schools), Fridays and Saturdays during school terms, and supervised by our 4 level 1 coaches, ably assisted
by 4 trainees. Riders are currently waiting 4 years to join Saturday classes, and over a year for Fridays, such is the
demand. We are constantly trying to address this issue – any ideas gratefully received!
We receive amazing assistance from the local community, with various fund-raising initiatives being very well
supported. Our immediate future plans include the purchase of a tow-behind manure collector and tow vehicle,
installation of arena lighting, arena surface renovation and erection of a large equipment/vehicle shed – not all at
once! These will be funded by a combination of grants (we hope!) and savings.
We would love to hear about YOUR centre, and we also invite coaches or volunteers from other centres to visit us
if they so wish. Just contact us on [email protected] and we can arrange something.
Yours in RDA,
Jane Marsh, secretary, Samford RDA.
samfordrda.com.au
CURRUMBIN VALLEY RDA Our centre was established in early 1996 @ the Currumbin Horse Club and I joined the group in May
1996. We started with 2 sessions on Friday afternoons with 2 borrowed horses, 6 regular volunteers and
4 riders.
We moved to Tallebudgera Pony Club grounds in 1997 but have not changed our official name so often
refer to our club as The Valley RDA. We were invited to share the TPC grounds because their membership
had reduced to such low numbers that they were concerned they may lose their lease of the council
grounds. For us the move allowed better agistment for the planned/hoped for RDA horses, better overall
riding areas and most importantly the potential to borrow pony clubbers’ horses. At the time we were
the only Qld centre and I think the only National centre that shared a pony club’s grounds. The
arrangement has had many challenges over the years but overall, I feel has been successful for both
clubs. We have benefited from wonderful loan horses and both clubs have greatly benefited from the
magnificent, improved facilities including an extensive club house and covered arena, all partly due to
the grant pulling capacity of RDA.
Currently we run 8.30am – 12.10 pm 4 sessions on Friday and 3 sessions on Saturday, during Qld school
terms. We have the capacity for 6 riders per session for the 5 sessions and up to 4 more challenged riders
in 2 Friday sessions. One of these is the introduction of an Early Intervention session which even at this
early stage is most successful.
Our general volunteer base is about 50 fantastic workers of which on each RDA day about 15 attend,
however, one of our great strengths is to have a regular coaching team of 10 which I believe is
exceptional. They include 5x Lev1; 3 x OTCs; + 1x Lev2 who coaches once a month + on call & 1x Lev1 on
call. Currently we have 2 OTC trainees + 1 Lev1. I think this must reflect that as well as hard working, we
are generally a very happy and supportive club much appreciated by our riders and their families.
Bev Humphries
2017 Melbourne
Cup celebrations
Our yards we upgraded to steel and with shelter thanks to a gambling benefit grant. Linda Gaffney, Crowson Park RDA
A Trot Down Memory Lane for Lockyer Valley is looking back at 3 years ago and attending the State
Championship in Caboolture. We started with a small team of riders. We entered the fancy dress much to
the voices of really. We got all dressed up and looked great, not enough to place but this made us
determined to do better the following year. Our team is very creative in their choices leaving it a bit
daunting to make costumes.
We are looking forward to this year’s State Championships and seeing all our mates and all the fun we
have when camping. The smiles and laughs are the best thing to see and hear from all riders and families,
and to know that’s what RDA is all about.
Horsein’ Around # Horseland Strathpine
Here at Horseland Strathpine,
we are proud to support riders
from all disciplines and walks
of life.
We are honoured to have
been asked to give our two
cents worth …….. so, here’s
some thoughts on summer
horse health.
Don’t hesitate to come in
store and chat to our friendly
staff if you have any questions
about this article….
Horseland Strathpine Team
We all love our equine partners,
and just like any friends, in order
for the relationship to flourish, we
need to care it. Horses are like
us, they need love, attention and
daily quality time
To avoid issues such as muscle cramps and
stiffness. It may be better to allow the horse
to dry then brush out the sweat rather than
hose down. This does two things, gives the
horse a great massage after work and
promotes coat health.
make sure your horse has plenty of
fresh water and shade. Give them
electrolytes daily to replenish any
lost due to sweating, especially
when its humid, and keep work
sessions shorter, with lots of rest
breaks.
It’s also important to consider that
as the evenings temperatures drop,
make sure your horse is slowly
cooled down
Horses expend a lot of energy ridding
themselves of annoying insects, so to
help them retain better condition,
trying a couple to simple things, such
as fly rugging, can make a huge
difference.
There are many naturopathic
remedies that can also support the
horses’ immune system.
Spending that time with our
horses give us an insight
into their daily needs,
unique personalities and
requirements. It gives us a
chance to notice if there is
something amiss or that
they are just simply healthy
and happy
Horses can’t just go in to
the Air-con as we would
when it’s hot.
What about rugging?
One great reason to rug
in beautiful Queensland
are the dreaded
midge’s. If you can
cover your horse with a
lightweight fly rug and a
fly veil, you’ll decrease
the reaction your horse
may have to the bites.
Using a good quality fly
repellent is a huge help
too. This simple thing
can really improve the
horses comfort on a
day to day basis.
“There is
something about
the outside of a
horse that is good
for the inside of a
man.”
― Winston S. Churchill
