Diane Lee tells us about Wyfold Riding for the Disabled Association whose equine helpers, including Archie, provide wonderful experiences. Maybe you could volunteer?
Our workforce of nine horses and ponies give therapeutic riding and driving sessions to 57 people with physical, intellectual, social and emotional challenges.
Activities take place in our purpose-built arena or on an all-weather track and with rides out through the beautiful woods and Wyfold Estate.
We have 24 trained riding coaches and six driving coaches in a team of almost 90 volunteers who look after the horses and ponies under the guidance of our part-time yard manager. More volunteers are needed to help on Tuesdays.
All nine are very special ponies as they carry such vulnerable riders, but they all know their job and can even step it up a gear and compete in regional dressage competitions. Back in May, we took seven of our riders to the RDA South Region Qualifiers where four of them qualified for nationals. We wish all our riders the best of luck!
Another big piece of news at Wyfold is that, after a three-year hiatus from carriage driving, after our pony Lucky retiring and three previous unsuccessful attempts to get going, we have the lovely Archie signed off, having passed his “driving test”. Archie is a 14 hand, 18-year-old Welsh boy and is looking forward to welcoming a further 12 participants on to our books. Our final new addition to the herd is Ebony and she is our youngest pony.
To find out more, please call 01491 680541 or visit wyfoldrda.org.uk

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