RDA  

This year 6 Junior students were fortunate to have the opportunity to take part in RDA (Riding for Disabled) at Main Ridge. This was led by Jenny, Cathy (coach) and their large team of volunteers.

Monday mornings students boarded the bus and headed to the Uncommon Folk farm to see the cows and sheep grazing in the paddocks and most importantly to ride the horses and ponies in the large, covered arena.

The students had a truly fabulous year with the horses and there were so many achievements to be super proud of. They learnt to remain quiet and calm around the horses, to pat and groom the horses and how to ride and trot!

We witnessed Alaynah who was initially so afraid of the horses that she would not even go into the horse arena to now confidently sitting on the horse and trotting! Angela, donning her colourful horse socks was the Dressage superstar and was given the opportunity to attend a Horse Event run by RDA where she won a ribbon.

Students not only showed the ability to ride the horse confidently, but they have developed their social and interaction skills with the team of volunteers. Kai showed great improvement in his ability to “wait” and learnt that he didn’t always have to go first, well done Kai! Nathanyl made a name for himself for his chatty and loveable personality with the volunteers. While Dexter, started RDA late in the year has already shown improved skills in listening and interacting safely around the horse arena. Di, one of the volunteers at RDA expressed how much pleasure she has had interacting with all the students and seeing all their accomplishments this year.

Other students who were given the opportunity to ride were Hunter, Jensen, Lilly and Gideon.

Well done to all the students, parents and teachers and E.S who have supported them!

On one more note, our RDA students were also very lucky to be given the opportunity to go on a lightplane and a couple of students took up this once in a lifetime opportunity. Thank you to the charity, Fun Flight.

Finally, a big thank you to RDA for this wonderful opportunity and we look forward to 2025 where we will be supporting a new group of students to take part in RDA.