On the weekend, Riding for the Disabled (RDA) held their annual Fun Day to help raise awareness of the facility, and their current dire need for help during the drought season.
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President and coach of the RDA Julie Groat said they are teaching children how to walk the horses, how to get on a horse and direct them left, right, and how to stop the horse.
“We invite parents to bring their children and we show them a bit of what we do here,” Ms Groat said.
“Some days [the children] shock you – some children are non-verbal, then all of a sudden they’ll say things.”
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Children were invited to mount a horse and take them along an obstacle course in the arenas.
“At the end, we give the children ribbons,” she said.
Ms Groat said this year the RDA will be producing a calendar to show the parents what their children have been up to and which horses they ride.
“It’s great for the parents who can’t be here.”
The RDA is currently looking for feed for the horses to help during the coming months.
“It’s very hard to source hay for the horses. Recently, we’ve had some very kind donations; people donating hay.”
They also run horse sponsorship programs which helps with the feed and care of the horses at the facility. Ms Groat said there have been a number of incidents on the property including horses intentionally let out, and items going missing.
“With all of the money we’ve been able to raise, and the kind donations from everybody, that’s what’s helping us.”
RDA has also been able to buy horses and equipment with donated funds.
