Riding for the Disabled
The March WI meeting was an Open Meeting with members from at least five other WIs attending. They came to hear guest speaker Karen Hanks – President, Cumberland-Westmorland Federation , speak about her voluntary work with the Riding for the Disabled Association.
She began by openly admitting that the WI was not her first and foremost ‘love’ – that was her obsession with horses! Working on Walney at Seaview Riding Stables the RDA holds weekly riding school sessions on Wednesday mornings for 10 disabled youngsters from four schools. These lessons are provided free and, with adapted equipment – several items of which Karen passed round – enable the children not only to enjoy riding but also to gain in confidence, improve physical well-being, get a different perspective on life from up on a horse, and even aid speech development: the children talk to the ponies, not to their tutors!
Thursday evening sessions are also held for older riders who began riding through the school scheme. For these they have to pay, but have the advantage that parents go along as well. The riding is made fun in both groups with the occasional gymkhana, ‘challenge’ courses, and, for some lucky ones, a riding holiday in North Wales.
Karen had many entertaining anecdotes about the children: especially things they had done and said. And she also mentioned the support received from Seaview stables, who buy their ponies with the RDA’s needs in mind; BAE Systems who have provided, in particular, a lift to get folk onto their ponies; and the Co-op.
Karen was thanked for her illuminating and entertaining presentation. The five-prize raffle was drawn, following which members were invited to have refreshments, and to support the Federation Sales Table which had been set up at the back of the hall. The afternoon closed with a buzz of talk as people settled themselves into ad hoc groups to chat over their cups of tea. Rachael Edmondson confirmed that it had been worthwhile bringing the Sales Table along, and people left saying “Thank you for a lovely afternoon” and that they were sorry Asby WI needed to close.
