Meet the Team - Our Helpers

Our volunteers are a great bunch of people from all walks of life. Some are as young as 14: some are retired.

Some of our helpers have never had anything to do with horses before coming to us: others have been around horses all their lives. They perform a wide variety of tasks.

We train everyone who tacks up ponies, takes charge of the leading rein, sidewalks or deals with the ponies and classes in any way to standards laid down by RDA National Office.

We even have an international paralympic equestrian as one of our regular helpers. Kathryn Wheelock is leading the trek opposite.

There are lots of ways of helping us.

We set no exams in tea and coffee making, cleaning mud from our portakabin's floor, cleaning tack, keeping the mounting area free of mud or helping with our fundraising.

Rattling tins in superstores or at local shows is not a difficult task and can be a very satisfying one. Some of our riders are particularly good at it. Even Blackie, our Shetland Pony, has been known to lend a hoof.

If you feel you might like to join us, just click on the 'Contact' button on the left menu.

Most of our instructors started by learning how to lead and sidewalk and then got so keen on their work that they opted for more training in order to qualify to give lessons.

We are very lucky to have several instructors. They are all very enthusiastic and some are also very experienced in teaching able-bodied riders. They all seem to have the knack of coaxing the best out of each individual.

Opposite, among the group of helpers, are two of our instructors. Nikki  (3rd from right) is leading Major and next to her (2nd from right) is Liz.