Hamilton Group RDA
"Confidence, independence and well being for people with disabilities through therapeutic horse riding and horse care."
The RDA programme's teaches equestrian skills with the objective of developing, increasing and improving:--Physical abilities
-Communication and concentration
-Self-esteem and confidence
-Achievement and independence
-Social skills
-Sports and recreation opportunities
Individual programmes are developed by the instructor to suit the needs, abilities and personal goals of the rider. The instructor sets them in conjunction with teachers or caregivers and a therapist.
Instructor
Dna Wells is our instructor and programme organizer. Dna's vast experience with horses began when she was 4 years old and has continued throughout her life. She competed at top level equestrian for eight years and represented NZ in both show jumping and three day eventing. She was short listed for the New Zealand Olympic team.
Dna tutored the Certificate of Equine Studies at WINTEC and now holds the RDA Level 2 Instructor's Certificate.
She has found teaching children with disabilities is little different from teaching other riders and ensures her programmes meet their individual needs.Dna is also a member of the the New Zealand RDA Training Team which is involved in coaching coaches within NZRDA.
Dna is popular with parents and students and the feedback from both school teachers and parents has been wonderful.
Click here for more about Dna Wells
Our Volunteers
Our volunteers have varied backgrounds, experience and can be any age over 14 years as long as they are reasonably physically fit, willing to learn and accept directions and be prepared to work as a team member.
We are not all riders or horse lovers although some experience is an advantage but training is given during sessions and RDA do run volunteer training courses for those interested.
You can be asked to:
- handle and lead the horse if the rider has not yet developed the skills to control it
- be a sidewalker who walks beside the rider to prevent accidents or falls
- assist with the teaching and learning
- facilitate posture and balance
You may make yourselves available for one morning a week or for all three but need to be punctual, reliable and respectful of both the riders and other members of the team.
Join the team - become an RDA volunteer!
As an incorporated society and not for profit organisation the programme relies on volunteer helpers to be able it to supply the service to disabled riders. Volunteering is rewarding, its fun, its not hard work or very difficult.
Volunteers don't have to be:
Mad on horses, or
There three mornings a week, or
Have any special knowledge about disabilities.
Volunteers need to:
Enjoy animals;
Care about people, and
Want to make a difference to others lives.
contact Dna on 0275 426732 to ask about becoming a volunteer.
email:
rda@horses.net.nz
Congraduations to the volunteer team:
The winners of the Volunteering Waikato Team Excellence award
The big news in June, for Hamilton Group Riding for the Disabled was our winning of the Group Excellence Award category at the Volunteer of the Year Awards.
The awards dinner was held by Volunteering Waikato on the 23rd of June at the Waikato Stadium. Around fifteen of our volunteers attended the event which kicked off with two guest speakers talking about their own experiences of volunteering. Then the proceedings moved on to the highlight of the evening, the awards themselves followed by a light supper and the chance to mingle with some of the other recipients and nominees.
There were several different categories of nominees represented at the awards and our coach and manager Dna Wells had nominated the volunteers of our group for the award. We were all thrilled to be nominated and with our win. It was great to have so many of us there to share in our achievement ? not to mention our receiving the fabulous prize of a voucher from Montana Catering, $500 from Trust Waikato and a delicious box of goodies from Te Rapa New World. Our president Bevan Bradding spoke briefly about our group and thanked Volunteer Waikato for the award.
We all enjoy so much what we do as volunteers and it was lovely to be recognised for the commitment and effort that contributes to making our RDA group such a fun and rewarding experience for the riders. Last but not least a big thank-you to Dna for making it all happen.
Hannah Doughty
John Noble
9th July 1947 - 29th April 2010
In memory of John who was a wonderful member of our volunteering team. There are now big boots to fill on a Friday, you were the Friday man. Thank you from all the families and children that you have helped. You made such a diffence in their lives.
Hamilton Group RDA much appreciates donations recieved as tributes to John.
We will all miss you and we will all take good care of your horse Dart.
John and Debra giving Nick a trot on Millie
My Volunteers Only Ribbon Day
On Monday the 31st of March we held our Ribbon Day for my wonderful bunch of volunteers. It was a very succesful day which finished just in time for the well needed rain! With 11 competitors and only one hour to prepare their horses for the first class which was Best Turned Out Horse And Rider, the competition was fierce. Bevan arose to the challenge to grab his first win over the girls. Click here for more information and results
Maria placing Bevan's 1st place ribbon on Kruz.
Our Riders
Our riders mainly come as school groups but may be of any
age, beginning at 3 years. They have disabilities including:
- Physical
- Learning
- Psychological
All enjoy and benefit from riding.
For our riders, "Riding a horse is to fly without wings".
Group 1 Riders
These riders have low needs, and
- Require a leader only when they start riding.
- Work towards being independent riders.
- Progress from walking, to trotting then cantering.
- Develop grooming, leading and other horse care skills.
Rider 2 Riders
These riders have moderate needs, and:
- Require a leader at all times and some also require a sidewalker.
- Walk and trot for short distances and can enjoy farm rides over hills.
- Work on muscle toning and strengthening.
- Do exercises on horse back (eg ball games).
Rider 3 Riders
These riders have high needs, and:
- Require a leader and two side walkers at all times.
- Are more physically disabled.
- Work on strengthening and control.
- Walk only but do bending and poles.
Our Ponies
The horses we use are chosen for their suitability and are experienced learner's ponies. In addition to Hamilton RDA horses, we also use horses from the Waikato Equestrian Centre's Riding School stables.
Our Sponsors
We would like to thank the team at JLT Bloodstock for their support. Money raised by them went towards buying 4 new horses. They also insure our horses, so if you are looking for horse insurance please give the JLT team a call or visit http://www.horseinsurance.co.nz/
Latest News
Shade Roof
Thanks to funding from Sky City Hamilton, Stu and his team at Shade Direct were able to install our shade roof over our mounting area.
This will keep our hoist from getting wet, keep the surface slip free, stop the wheel chairs from getting wet and give us a dry area to work in on those damp Waikato days.
Introducing Gummy Bear to the team at Hamilton RDA.
Gummy Bear is the latest pony to join the team, he is 8hh and has just begun his training as the carriage driving pony. He is currently being driven and next term he will have his cart hitched for the first time. At the moment we are fundraising to buy the cart so if you can help, please do so.
Gummy Bear proved to be a great cart pony, having his firs day in the cart and all the kids and volunteers getting to have their turn.
We welcome hoofball
We would like to thank Mary Torok for her very kind donation of a hoofball.
All the horses are getting used to the ball and most think it's great! They have picked up very quickly what it is and what they can do with it.
It is proving to be very popular with the students and leaders and is a very good teaching tool.
Please contact Mary http://www.hoofball.co.nz/ if you are interested in buying a ball.
Background of RDA
As far back as 2000 years BC the Greeks and Romans recognised that riding horses was valuable in maintaining and improving our human health and well being.
In the early 1900's, horses were used in orthopaedic hospital programmes for the rehabilitation of convalescing solders, especially amputees.
In 1952 Ms Liz Hartel who used a wheelchair rode her horse to a silver medal in dressage at the Helsinki Olympics and this showed the potential benefits for the disabled. This supported and helped promote the benefits of horse riding particularly as in the 1950/60s the polio epidemics left many physically disabled.
The movement is now worldwide, and at least 43 countries are members of The Federation of Riding for the Disabled International (F.R.D.I.). R.D.A was formally introduced to New Zealand in 1962. NZ RDA has 52 member groups across the country.
Where and When?
Our base is at 1340 Pukete Road, at the north end of Hamilton. We use the facilities that belong to the Waikato Combined Equestrian Group Inc. known as the Waikato Equestrian Centre.
Our sessions are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.
Download Agreement to Participate and Medical Consent Form
CONTACT
Dna Wells on 0275 426732 (0275 HAMRDA)
E: rda@horses.net.nz
RESULTS
Class one:
Best Turned out Horse and Rider:
1st place- Bevan on Kruz
2nd place- Michelle on Ivan
3rd place- Margaret Skinner on Ace
4th place- Jane on Casper
Class Two: Best paced and mannered:
Novice Group Intermediate Group
1st place- Trish on Cam 1st place- Michelle on Ivan
2nd place- Mary on Mr Perkins 2nd place- Lynne on Deck
3rd place- Kate on Steele 3rd place- Margaret Bradding on Hollie
Class Three: Rider on the Flat
Novice Group Intermediate Group
1st place- Bevan on Kruz 1st place- Margaret Skinner on Ace
2nd place- Mary on Mr Perkins 2nd place- Jane on Casper
3rd place- Trish on Cam 3rd place- Margaret Bradding on Hollie
Class Four: Walk, Trot, Canter, Jump
Novice Group Intermediate Group
1st place- Bronwyn on Blue Girl 1st place- Margaret Bradding on Hollie
2nd place- Mary on Mr Perkins 2nd place- Margaret Skinner on Ace
3rd place- Trish on Cam 3rd place- Lynne on Deck
Class Five: Handy Hunter
Novice Group Intermediate Group
1st place- Kate on Steele 1st place- Michelle on Ivan
2nd place- Brenda on Sam 2nd place- Margaret Bradding on Hollie
3rd place-Bronwyn on Blue Girl 3rd place- Margaret Skinner on Ace
The Obstacle Race was a team event which was taken out by the B team
I would like to specially thank the judges, Ona Wells-Intermediate group and Maria Spanbrooke-Novice Group for giving up their morning to come along. Also a big thankyou to Nicole Hammond who was our assistant judge.
Due to Ace being the only RDA owned pony there were lots of requests to ride him. Congratulations Margaret Skinner who was the lucky person who got her name drawn out of the hat.
A fun day was had by all and was finished off with lunch at the Cock and Bull.
