Barbara Weston, Denise Shanley, Wendy Tunbridge, Norma Anderson, Helen Shaw and Lorna Hawkins enjoy sewing as a hobby but they could never have imagined the delighted response they received when they presented the individual quilts at a recent RDA outing at the show ground.

“To say the riders were thrilled would be an understatement,” RDA member Margaret Hickman said.

“The ladies were so happy to see the reaction of our riders when they received their quilts.

“Feedback from the schools and relatives of the riders has been overwhelming and this has made the group’s hard work very rewarding.”

Riding for the Disabled is a worldwide movement which relies on volunteers to help provide horse-riding and associated activities for people with disabilities.

The Gunnedah branch was formed in 1986, when local community health nurse, Ruth Pope, and another resident, Barbara Lightfoot, saw a need for this type of activity for disabled children and adults.

A public meeting was called and local residents volunteered the services of reliable horses, which were thoroughly tested for their ability to cope with a disabled rider. The group became accredited in 1988.

The group started with six riders and two horses and it was a great success, even though most of the committee members  had little experience with disabilities.

In 1990, the Gunnedah Lions Club built a storage shed for the group and Brian Henderson constructed a ramp for the wheelchairs, which makes mounting the horses much easier, while Bert Wicks and Bob Welsh built a sulky for those who can’t stay on a horse. 

Riding  gives enormous pleasure to participants as they develop a relationship with their horse and the flow-on benefits include improved co-ordination, balance, muscle development and fitness.