Waterford volunteers needed to support disabled children and adults through horse riding

Riding for the Disabled Ireland (RDA Ireland) and GAIN Equine Nutrition are on the search for new volunteers in Waterford to help support children and adults with additional needs through weekly horse riding lessons.

Volunteers for RDA Ireland have been giving their time to important local causes for decades and now the charity wants to attract more people who are comfortable around horses and available to support lessons during the day on weekdays.

Anyone in Waterford who are interested in becoming a volunteer can look up details for the Waterford RDAI Group which is based around Killoteran. 

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RDA Ireland recently held a gathering in Slane, County Meath where 400 volunteers attended to celebrate the positive impact horses have on the lives of hundreds of adults and children with additional needs at the dedicated riding centres in Ireland. 

Volunteers were recognised at the gathering for their service to the organisation with three having given 40 years to RDA Ireland, while others were recognised for 30, 20 and 10 years of volunteering. 

Secretary of RDA Ireland, Dilys Lindsay has been a volunteer for 26 years and says she’s gained more from the experience than she could ever have imagined.

She said: “I’ve never owned a horse and my only connection with horses was that I took riding lessons when I was in boarding school. I volunteered because I knew another volunteer. Volunteers only need to be comfortable around horses. All other training is given.

“It has been an amazing experience. We have lots of service users who have communication challenges, who live with Autism and other conditions. The impact the horse has on them is remarkable and it’s amazing to see service users’ blossom.

“Several have said their first word on a horse. Sometimes it’s the horse’s name. Other times it’s words like ‘slow’, ‘stop’ or other commands we use during the lessons. Parents, teachers or carers tell us that horse riding boosts their mood, calms them, helps their balance, and helps them to sleep better. I really don’t know what it is – perhaps it’s the magic of the horse.” 

RDA Ireland has 30 groups across Ireland and almost 400 volunteers providing weekly riding or carriage driving sessions to more than 380 children and adult with disabilities.