Riding for disabled seeks volunteers

SIMON BLOOMBERG/Nelson Mail

MUCKING IN: Richmond RDA staff members Ruby Ewers and Helen Wright are looking for volunteers to help them keep disabled clients riding.

Richmond Riding for the Disabled desperately needs volunteers.

Sixty-five riders benefit from the Richmond RDA's programmes which run at its Champion Rd headquarters from Monday to Friday during the school term. But RDA co-ordinator Helen Wright said yesterday that some of the programmes are in jeopardy without more volunteers.

"We have about 35 volunteers at the moment, including committee members, but we need more. If we could get 10 people to help out it would be awesome."

The RDA, which has 54 groups around the country, uses horse riding as a form of therapy, rehabilitation and recreation for people with disabilities. Richmond RDA has 12 horses and relies on volunteers, grants, donations and fundraising.

Ms Wright said their biggest concern was finding volunteers to help lead and side-walk horses during lessons.

She said new volunteers would be given training and did not need to be experienced horse-handlers.

"The majority of our volunteers come for a morning or an afternoon and assist with clients and lead horses or ponies in the lessons but they don't have to stay that long. The lessons are 45 minutes so they only need to help out for about an hour."

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer for the Richmond RDA can call Ms Wright on 035448960 or email richmondrda@ts.co.nz.

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