Riding for the disabled

29th May 2025- Riding for the Disabled –– Lesley Davies and Natalie Pedley

Before our speakers began, we were informed of another successful Memory Café with David V. and Maggie presenting on Musicals, something our presenters were interested in, an area they wish to grow into.

Lesley began their presentation with ‘where they started’ in Colston Basset with limited resources, muddy fields, 4 horses, 15 volunteers and leaky stables, operating 3 days per week, but they never lost sight on the difference that horses can make to people of all ages with their problems. Fortunately, they found some land on Colston Road that they could develop into the perfect setting: a top-class arena, outdoor menage (sand arena), wonderful stables, 27 acres of land and a vision of what could be.

They now operate 7 days per week rising from their original 3 days, 12 horses, 80 to 90 participants from the original 30 and 40 to 50 volunteers. Lesley started her involvement in 2005 and acts as a coach, trainer and a trustee and it was she and her husband Martyn who bought the land and funded its development, wishing to give a lasting legacy to the RDA, with probably the best facilities in the UK.

Natalie then gave us her story, being involved with horses all her life, but tragedy struck when her youngest daughter Edie developed encephalitis when she was 5, resulting in 6 weeks in intensive care at the QMC.  But she survived and had to learn to walk and talk again and to day you wouldn’t see any difference and she has spent many hours with the horses at the RDA. Her elder daughter Molly, now 16 and taking her GCSEs went through the usual teenage anxieties, but again found herself working and talking with the horses. So, a personal enthusiasm and commitment to their work. It’s not just walking or riding the horses, they do competitions as well, in dressage, jumping, both at local, regional and National levels at Hartpury in Gloucestershire, having recorded a ‘Horse of the week’ prize with ‘Puddle’ previously. They also have an human physiotherapist and RDA Coach that works with them with their clientele ranging from youngsters with Downes syndrome, autism, spina bifida, cerebral palsy from local special schools to senior citizens from local Care homes, offering healing and therapeutic powers to the East Midlands communities.

Many questions followed about how the participants are referred, health and safety issues, hats, riding trousers, boots and specialised reins, charges and funding, all answered by two very capable and enthusiastic Trustees who are hoping to hire out these magnificent facilities to provide more funding opportunities.

Allen gave the vote of thanks firstly confessing the trouble he would receive from not bring Helen along, but confirming her knowledge of what horses can deliver in such circumstances. Recognising that they had developed a facility that offers a non-challenging environment for those who need it and a community offering a ‘safe space’ for all. He then asked the members to join him in a hearty round of applause.             AR