Inside this issue

Training Grades Let’s hear it for...

Fund raising

Pony prattle

Photos

PVG scheme

A wee rider says

My legs are too far away (

Moray Group Riding for the Disabled

Newsletter No 31

Summer 2015

Charity no.SC 010025

Current Committee Members

Chairperson: Charlotte Mountain

07785392785

Treasurer: Gillian Anderson

Secretary: Lorna Castle

Dave Bridgeford

Lesley Hutcheson

Campbell Harris

Lynne Havell

James Younie

Ellen Nock

Hazel Richardson

Jackie Macpherson

Group Organiser

Denise Kelly—contact: 01343 850310

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Autumn term begins:

Training day 26th August

Wednesday 2nd

September

Monday 7th

September

No riding during autumn school

term holidays. October 12th

, 14th,

19th, 21

st

Last Wednesday November 18th

Last Monday November 23rd

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With thanks to our

Newsletter sponsors

Welcome to Newsletter number 31.

Another busy term has come to an end we hope you

have all enjoyed it.

We have welcomed new riders and also new

volunteers. The group is going from strength to strength

and has a waiting list for riders. That is why it is so

important to keep sending out the word that we are

always looking for new volunteers

www.morayrda.org.uk

Moray Group RDA

RDA Headquarters

www.rda.org.uk

rom our group organiser and instructor Denise Kelly

It has been a busy term for our riders but more so for our dedicated small band of helpers who have

braved the rain, snow and one week sweltering sun. I know I don’t say it enough but thank you and,

really we couldn’t do it without you. A special mention to our newest recruits to Wednesdays.... Liz

Graham, Hayley Wills, who also helps on a Monday with daughter Kate, Deborah Ross, Courtney and

more recently Charlotte, Chelsey, and Rhona.

Training days, no matter how hectic I make them, never really prepare you for the real thing.

I hope you have all extended your vocabulary and now know what a “thingamabob” and a “whatsit”

really mean and when I ask for a lead rein I really mean a front strap!

We really cram a lot into our 10 weeks, and to see the smiles, hear the laughter (-mainly from the

helpers as I trip over a pole or jumpkin when no one thinks to warn me while I’m walking backwards-)

and see the cuddles the ponies get and give. The confidence that grows within our riders as they

communicate with their leaders and ponies fills me with pride, when I think ‘we did that’

It also gives everyone such a boost when some of the riders chat to them in Tesco or Asda when they

have been recognised as ‘from the ponies’

It was lovely to welcome our visitors from Cedarwood as they arrived to watch their buddies ride.

When I asked what they thought of their riding one gentleman replied “they’re just smiling” I did mention

that staying on a pony was hard work!

So what have we been up to this term:-

Training in March was well attended and enjoyed by all.

There is always something new to learn on these days, even for those who have been volunteers for a long time, and of great interest to the new volunteers,

Below is a sample of what was taught and demonstrated:-

AT THE RAMP....THE HORSE.....ROLES OF HELPERS.....MOUNTING

Getting the horse close to the ramp

Leader on outside

Side helper

Each helper should know what their role is...team effort

Volunteers experienced how it felt for a rider mounting for the first time

Methods of mounting i.e. seat first or leg over.

Instances when a rider will mount from the right hand side of the horse were discussed.

RIDERS

Position

Hips square...eye...shoulder ...turn...look ahead

As you sit on your horse you need a straight line from your ear through

your shoulders, hips, to your heels

Neck reining

Role of the leader

Role of the side helper

Leader give warning to rider and side helper when turning

F

Quote from a

little rider.

‘My legs are

too far away’

(Stirrups are too

short) Magic!!

Grade 1 Riding

Grade 2 Riding Grade 3 Riding Grade 1 Horse Care

Katie Herrett Katie Herrett Kyle Sharp

Nathan Craib Nathan Craib Kevin Macpherson

Levi Hird Abbie McGovern Michael Burnett

Charlie George Innis Bell Robert Macpherson

Ross McColm~ Connor Sutherland Rebecca Rose

Emma Louise Mitchell Craig Watkins Callum White

*Owen Simpson Liam Whyte

Jack Paterson Joshua Duncan

Julie Anderson

*Owen is well on his way to Grade 2!

Monday riders have been working on different parts of a handy pony

The Wednesday 9:30 Ride have been working towards their show jumping level

1

Ceiran Gilchrest and his sister Becca, Craig Rae and Heather Roulson are

working toward completing their ASDAN booklets ready for moderation in

September

Kirsten Roulson is working on her Transition Challenge which is also an ASDAN

qualification.

We welcomed two new riders from Millbank for taster sessions in May as told by:- Karen Ramsay Principal Teacher Additional Support Needs Millbank Primary

What a fantastic experience it's been for Cody and Ethan to come to Cranloch every week. First visit; Cody wouldn't even get out of the car and Ethan screamed when we tried to get a riding hat on his head. With support from parents (and visiting grandfather too), guidance from the instructors and patience from the volunteers both boys are now happy to wear their riding hats and have made amazing progress. Ethan is able to tell Tim to stop, then count to ten and walk on. Cody is interacting with his instructor and volunteer to take the ball and put it down the cone. These are essential skills; Ethan is learning to listen, follow instructions and most importantly he is learning to wait. Cody is learning to engage with others and follow instructions. It's wonderful to see them progress and to witness the pride and joy of their parents. A big thank you from Millbank Primary School to Denise and Heather and the RDA volunteers

So thank you all again for your support and however long or short a time you can give to

RDA

It’s what you CAN do that counts

To the best TEAM——-Together Everyone Achieves More

Denise

This Terms Proficiency Grading Certificates

PROFICIENCY TEST GRADING

Apart from the physical benefits the riders get from the lessons we provide they can also work toward 4

levels of proficiency certificate. Our lessons are all geared towards teaching the principals of these tests.

Tests cover both riding and horse care

The Riding Tests range from the basic ability to happily sit on the horse in walk halt and changes of

direction (Grade 1) through to riding independently off the lead rein, demonstrating basic school

movements such as changes of rein circles etc. and trotting over three poles or jumping over a very low

fence (Grade 4)

The Horse Care Tests cover a simple knowledge of the horse and his tack (Grade 1) right up to

knowledge of how to care for and feed a pony, how to catch and tie up correctly and also tack up. (Grade

4)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fundraising report

Our fundraising group have been very busy since your last newsletter

INCHBERRY CAR BOOT What a success that was!! We raised a whopping £1189.94!

Thanks to each and every one of you who helped before, during and after (even managed to rope a few

unsuspecting relatives into helping – thank you Rona, Lynne and Kayla )

What a huge boost, not only to our funds, but also to all our helpers after the last two years being a bit

disappointing. Everyone puts so much effort into organising the event and works their socks off on the

day so to get a result like that is so rewarding.

The weather was (mostly!) kind to us and the buyers were out in their droves.

However this success would not have been possible without the many fabulous quality items you are all

so generous in donating to sell – we are a very lucky group to have you all supporting us.

Still on the Inchberry car boot theme, special thanks must go to Inchberry’s John Taylor who gives up his

time every year to help ensure our day runs smoothly. John you are worth every single burger you eat!!!

COFFEE MORNING on Saturday 6th June at the Holy Trinity Church

hall raised another whopping sum of £296.54 Pictured right....Muriel,

Lesley & Mieke, fundraisers in pink!

BOTTLE STALL at the Marafun on

Sunday 7th June raised £330 thanks are

due to you all AGAIN for your

donations of scrummy home bakes for

the coffee morning ..................and for 200 – yes,

TWO HUNDRED!! Bottles for the Marafun stall.

Jackie pictured below waiting for the rush and the rain to stop!

Just a short report this time, but as ever, if you would like to

organise a fundraising event on our behalf PLEASE feel free

to do so like Sheila and Jack did (see the article below )

Our fundraising team are doing a fantastic job, but they do

appreciate any help and ideas that come their way.

ROUND THE WORLD IN 60 SECONDS!

Monday helpers and part time equestrian vaulters, Jack

and Sheila Taylor organised their own fundraising event

on our behalf on the weekend of 9th and 10

th of May.

They challenged Cranloch riders and visitors to take part

in one of their vaulting exercises, to see how many “round

the worlds” we could do in a minute – i.e. burling round a full 360 degrees as many times as possible on

the back of a horse They were kind to us (and the horses!) though and brought along their practice

vaulting horse, instead of subjecting us to a real one!

The event was great fun and loads of folk took up the challenge, with James Younie winning the adult

section with a phenomenal count of 20 – James was last seen spinning across the yard at a rate of knots!!

The Tack Shed in Fochabers and Speyside Glass Engraving in Rothes very generously donated the

winners’ prizes and Sheila and Jack raised a fantastic £87 for us. Everyone who took part thoroughly

enjoyed themselves, so much so that this might become an annual event!

WELL DONE JACK AND SHEILA

******************************************************************

A few words from an awestruck volunteer

Lets hear it for our

Volunteers. . . . We couldn’t do it without them. How often have we heard this, and

how true it is!

However. . . . There is another group of people we rely heavily upon and who we definitely couldn’t do

without no matter how many volunteers turn up.

Those people are our ~~~

NSTRUCTORS!!!!!!!!.

It struck me the other day just how much work they all put into the lessons, how

much planning goes on, how much attention they pay to each and every rider, how attentive they are

to us volunteers. Each rider only has maximum 30 minutes with us and for every minute our instructors,

chiefly Denise and Heather, try to ensure they are provided with a quality experience. Not only that, they

are always looking out for us volunteers, looking out for the horses, looking out for hazards . . . looking

out for cake !!

Yes, our instructors are not volunteers in the sense that they get a nominal payment but they are worth

their weight in gold for all the time and expertise they bring to the group.

Three cheers for our fantastic instructors

I

PONY PRATTLE

Hi folks, Corrie, Tim and Blair here

Phew!! This has been a busy term; we’re working on Mondays, Wednesdays and

Thursdays as well as doing our bit for the riding centre at the weekends. But we love it!

This has to be the best job a pony can have getting to work with all you lovely riders. We

love to see your smiley faces when you arrive and it means a lot to us

knowing we’re doing you good in so many ways – physically, mentally and

socially but most of all helping you to have FUN!

We love teaching you how to ride (yes, Denise and the other instructors

think THEY’RE the teachers, but without us they’d be pretty stumped )

but what we really enjoy is when we get to do games and races with you –

we’re all very competitive you know!

We hear that while we are working on Wednesdays, a group of you from

Banff Academy go down and clear the poo from our field and dig out any

ragwort. We really appreciate that because it is not nice having a field full

of poo when we’re trying to eat the juicy grass. And as for the ragwort –

that’s poisonous if we eat it so, although we do our best to avoid it, it’s

always best if it’s dug up out of the way. THANK YOU BANFF

RIDERS

We’re grateful too to the great pony care team who do all the housekeeping for us through the week –

you’re doing a super job and we especially love it when you bring us apples and carrots as a wee treat

We had a visit from the dentist in May (Andy Watson, Global Equine) and we were all very good for him.

He’s a lovely man and so gentle that we hardly realised what he was doing. He

says he’ll come back to give us a check-up in November, just like you humans.

Between that, regular visits from Andy the farrier (Andy Simpson), vet treatment

as soon as we need it (Seafield Vets, Keith), AND getting to work with all you

amazing riders, we consider ourselves very lucky ponies indeed.

Lots of love from a very contented trio

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What’s New???? We have welcomed new

riders and new volunteers

and a new pony from

Cranloch. Macy has been a

wee star and settled into her

new role very well. A firm

favourite with the riders and

helpers.

Something else new that has

proved a hit is the new

rugby shirts and here is our

very own Charlotte sporting

the very latest in Moray

Group leisure wear!

Hi I’m Macy

Some photos from the spring term. If, next term, you take any photos and are happy for them to go in the newsletter and would like to write a wee article to go with them or write about your experiences with the Moray Group please email Lynne Havell tonyntosh@aol.com. It is YOUR newsletter and we would like to put stuff in it to interest you. Thanks

Wishing you all a wonderful

summer and hope to see you in

September

IMPORTANT NOTICE Regarding PVG scheme (Protecting

Vulnerable Groups)

Our original helpers (pre 2011) need

to have a PVG which has replaced the original enhanced disclosure.

Please as Charlotte for a form on your return after the summer break