RDANI Stories

I am Conor.

Every Monday I go with Tor Bank School to Birr House for horse riding. My horse is called Robbie. There are lots of ladies who help us every week. They are very kind and even give us juice and biscuits.

On the horses we play games. One day I made an extra effort at the beanbag races and I won. It was fun.

For me the most rewarding thing was the realisation of the benefit of the work of the RDA and the confidence it gives to the disabled riders. I have volunteered in other organisations before but this was my first time with the RDA- it was fantastic.

The first part of the week was for the children; every morning all of the volunteers including myself walked alongside the riders and their horses.  It was a really lovely start to the day, especially as the walk had a view overlooking the sea.  After this walk we all got together and enjoyed a picnic as well as playing games.  From here the riders went trekking though the fields.  Also included was a gymkhana and many of the riders enjoyed the competition, however because everybody tried equally hard all riders were awarded a ribbon along with a prize.

A great part of the week was the evening entertainment where everyone gathered together and enjoyed various activities ranging from quizzes to racing wooden horses.  We also had a visit from George Jones from Radio Ulster who played the guitar for us and everyone joined in singing; it was a brilliant evening and a fantastic way to end the week.

I enjoyed my time with both the children and adult riders as well as getting to know their carers and the other volunteers.  It was such a rewarding experience and you really felt you were helping others.  Getting to know the people was so fulfilling with both riders and helpers having such great personalities.  I plan to volunteer again for next years RDA holiday and would encourage others to do so.  

Give thanks to all those volunteers

Who, in this world of ours,

Give up, sometimes for many years

Their precious leisure hours.

Their services are freely given,

And often with a smile.

Moved on by their good nature,

They go that extra mile.

 "I like going to my RDA group at Tullynewbank Stables. The pony I am riding is called Bowie and he is about six years in pony age. He is a piebald pony and his mane is black and white too. I sometimes ride by myself or am helped by Ann or Jim. I am doing my Level 1 test and I like doing pony club games. In the future I would like to do some jumping, trotting, cantering and even galloping!"

 "At Craigantlet we had a little girl who suddenly stopped talking. For months no-one could get her to speak, but one morning she began to say a few words while patting the pony she was riding. When she arrived home her mother could not believe she had got her talkative daughter back. To me there would be a BIG gap in my life if I did not have RDA. "

 "In 20 years we have helped many riders with a huge range of disabilities; from those with visual impairments, road accident victims, people injured in the troubles to those with physical problems. Here's to the next 20 years."

 "When the doctors told me I had a massive stroke and was paralysed down the right hand side, in my eyes, that was me finished. How could I go on and what type of life would I have now?

I was introduced to the RDA by my support teams and although I had never been on a horse in my life I took to it like a duck to water.

All I have to say to people in the same situation as me is don’t feel like you are on your own because out there are friends that you haven’t met yet and they will be good for you. If I hadn’t got out there with the RDA I wouldn’t have known what was to come in my life."

 "I have noticed a change in Aodhan since he started horse riding, he is more confident in himself and speaks his mind more. Also the staff in his school have seen a change in him as well going from being very quiet to being more chatty – especially on the bus to and from horse riding!

I would like to thank the Craigantlet RDA for giving Aodhan this wonderful experience."