Three children rode in the closing term of the Golden Ride. It was an enjoyable term, playing horse ball, walking in the woods, and playing games and honing our riding skills!

 

Trying to accommodate the very different needs of these children was challenging. When working with self-referred families the riders are not necessarily compatible, and they have different needs, strengths and weaknesses. So, for example, we had one very straightforward character who rode very well and who wanted to do more trotting. Another behaved in a very controlling way, due to their family history which made them quite tricky to manage alongside our more straightforward child! Our third rider was very competent however their family found it difficult to be consistent about getting them to sessions. Despite these elements we managed 6 sessions with between two and three children and which I would say were fun, if challenging!

 

So, when we knew that Jules was leaving us, we had to decide how best to manage the resources that we have. Mark Way School needed to keep riding, and the Golden Ride was struggling to have a predictable group of riders. We decided to close the Golden Ride and to use the space and me, the coach, to keep Mark Way School children riding.

 

To run a ride for self-referring families was a useful exercise. The need is there, which was why we tried it in the first place. We consistently are asked about riding by parents of disabled children. There are young riders out there who cannot ride with special schools and who desperately want to ride. Over the three years that we had the Golden Ride (named in celebration of Andover RDA’s 50th anniversary) we had many wonderful children who rode with us. They came and went due to circumstances beyond their control and to do with the challenges that disabled children and families encounter while navigating life and education. Young riders from the Andover special schools which we have traditionally coached are overseen by the school. Their home life and health care does not affect whether they can come to sessions. It is a more manageable activity for Andover RDA.

 

And so, the Golden Ride concluded with a body of work and volunteering which gave about 10 children a great experience over the 3 years. Parents were appreciative, helpful and cooperative, and the children quite obviously loved their sessions. I would say that if we had the resources in the future, it would be a good thing to try again.

 

Meanwhile I and the other volunteers who gave their time and commitment, remember it fondly and we have all learned a great deal about running a ride for children whose parents have referred them to us and who tried to ensure that they attended. This with all the complications of making time in the school day and, more importantly, making time in between children’s clinical appointments, never mind the fact that these children are often whisked off to some other education facility because their assessment had either come through or changed!  These children are disabled and have serious health issues which impinge upon their time, but they still want to ride a pony. I think it was the one time in the week when they could just have fun and love being on a pony. I think that is why we are all doing this RDA business isn’t it?

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Mary Childs