My Story:
Yesterday & Tomorrow: Riding horses has been, and still is, a lifelong passion of mine. Beginning before I could sit up, I would ride in front of Mum holding the reins of her 15.2 shaggy black mare, Cleo. I can remember loving the feeling of being in control, asking her to walk on and laughing on short bouncy trots. To this day, 50 plus years later, to me there’s nothing that compares to the exhilarating sense of freedom I feel atop of a horse. It wouldn’t be too far from the truth to say the bigger and the faster, the better 🤣. I also experience great satisfaction from being paired with an equine that I can connect with in walk, trot, or canter, to work on improving my position and riding ability. Next week, I will push shoulders back, control my naughty right hand better and sit deeper – I cannot wait!
Disability & Riding: My disability, the result of birth complications is quadriplegia dyskinetic cerebral palsy. The degree to which I can control different parts of my body varies with my left side less affected than my right. Through the dedication of the physio and occupational therapists at two special (Scope) schools, I learnt to walk independently (with too many falls) by age of 12ish and live independently. Horse riding and the RDA played no small part in facilitating my motor coordination improvement. Riding a horse involves movement and control of the whole body yet can be enjoyed by people with limited physical function as the action of the horse works muscles throughout the rider’s body, improving tone and control.
RDA Journey: My RDA journey began at my first boarding school, aged 6, when a scary old (to a 6 year old) lady, unloaded a group of patient ponies on the school playing field and plonked us on with a leader and two side walkers each. I suspect I was one annoying kid who said that I didn’t need to be held or led! I loved it, the sense of looking down to connect with people and observing nature from a vantage point. I did wish the helpers would talk to me rather than chat with each other; I always did, and still do, like to be centre of attention. Mrs Hubbard was a formidable force, especially as I progressed to being taken for lessons at her riding school where I learnt to do rising trot. The journey continued through various RDA connected stables around the south-east, from Kent and Essex, to Berkshire and Oxfordshire, each member group facilitating me in my desire to keep riding.
Creating Memories. Fond memories from each unique RDA group: Learning to canter and jump (not my forte with more falls than successful jumps) at Bradbourne RDA and progressing onto one of my all-time favourite mounts, the unstoppable Jenny, an armchair ride but boy did she go; Riding in the Royal Mews at a national RDA event, meeting Princess Anne for the first time; Cantering the irrepressible Rooster, a large chestnut gelding, on the Ridgeway, another one who I couldn’t stop, but never fell off in 5 years of riding. There have, of course, been a fair share of frustrations: Being put on a leading rein as an adult to go for a stroll around a field as health and safety policies inspired well intentioned individuals to zealous heights.
AIM RDA: And so… we arrive at AIM RDA, the newest member group, which I have been fortunate enough to be with since its inception in summer 2024. Their acronym, Ability, Independence, Motivation alone coincides with my own ethos. Here, we all (trustees, coaches, volunteers, riders) work together to achieve and have fun with a central philosophy of encouraging riders to reach their individual potential. Having ridden for many years, at many venues, experiencing a variety of coaching styles, I can honestly say I’m having some of the best lessons ever with AIM at Shrivenham Saddle Club. I’m buzzing after each lesson – well-schooled obedient safe horses, immensely enjoyable exercise, and progress, all under guidance of an excellent coach who listens to me.
The therapeutic benefits of riding, both physically and mentally cannot be underestimated. Thank you, RDA and here’s to many more exciting years with AIM RDA 😊.