Riding for the Disabled Association
Hi, Here are a few topics on which you may have views. It would be really good to get some discussion going and who knows it might even lead to some practical ideas or even solutions !
Firstly - How can we find more suitable homes for retiring RDA ponies who have given years of faithful service ?
Secondly - One of the real problems is finding suitable ponies for RDA centres. What if someone could be persuaded to breed and back such ponies and then pass them to a trainer to prepare them for RDA work. They could of course be sent to riding schools to get all round experience before specifically going into RDA work ? I know this would be a costly, time consuming exercise. But once it was up and running, then potentially, you would have a supply of suitable ponies. Ideally you would have a number of programmes running so that you could produce ponies of different sizes and weight bearing capabilities. The ponies could be bought by RDA centres at market prices to offset some of the costs. I know this sounds like an impossible dream, but who knows, maybe Sheikh Mohammed will see this ! Alternatively the RDA themselves may look at this as a long term strategic opportunity that they could get involved with ?
What do you think ?
Great idea but could it really be that simple? Surely if it was someone would be doing it already!
I guess as with everything so much comes down to funding that is available. I like the idea of RDA National becoming more involved on this level and maybe they can help find and fund suitable venues - So many of the retirement homes are full of much more needy ponies than those from well run centres and so will never be offered a place. The RDA centres themselves cannot be expected to keep all the ponies as they retire because they need the space for working ponies!
Has anyone acually tried to get any of the retirement homes to accept a retired RDA pony latley. I think that some might except the aurguement that as a Charity for disabled riders it goes against Peniwells aims to keep ponies that can't be ridden and fits exactly with the orginal intention of such as the Bransby home of rest for horses.
The fact remains that they may not have any room at the time it's needed.
And before you say : go then you ask them, I think to get a considered responce it would need to be a well set out letter on headed paper
We have tried to get a space at various homes but have been unsuccessful - They are all so full and really now only take true rescue or neglected ponies.
Penniwells used to have one place kept at Speen in Princess Risborough but no this is longer available due to a change in their procedures.
In that case I'll just keep tapping up my pony club contacts for retirement homes
Don't know anyone willing to breed suitable ponies though. The saying fools breed horses for wise men to ride springs to mind.