THERE was a full turnout of volunteers for the first of the 2017 training sessions hosted earlier this week by the Riding for the Disabled Association of Ireland.

Also attending the first two-day event in Broadmeadows Equestrian Centre, near Ashbourne, Co Meath, to show his support was RDAI ambassador Ireland’s Olympic pentathlete Arthur Lanigan O’Keeffe.

On hand for the training session were prestigious coaches Sue Adams Wheeler, Chair of Coaching, HVLP, FRDA at RDA UK and International and Lynne Munro, Regional Physiotherapist RDA North Wales MSc, MCSP, RDAC, UKCC Level 2.

The RDAI is looking forward to taking this training programme to six other venues around Ireland before the end of the year.

As well as improving the experience of the riders, this training offers volunteers continuous professional development (CPD), a step towards future qualifications and is a very meaningful addition to their CVs.

“The RDAI and its volunteers are the quiet unsung heroes of the horse world, giving their time to work week-in week-out with the intellectually and physically disabled. There are no prizes or medals for the service they provide which means it often goes unnoticed in such a goal-orientated world,” commented RDAI director Roisin Henry.

FUNDING

Avalon Everett of Horse Sport Ireland said: “In 2016, Horse Sport Ireland, in conjunction with the RDAI, applied for funding pursuant to the Dormant Account Sports Inclusion Fund.

The initiative submitted by the RDAI met the specific criteria of the fund and thankfully we were successful in securing €40,000. The RDAI put forward an excellent blueprint for a legacy programme that will hopefully continue for many years. The importance of volunteers within RDAI cannot be underestimated and continuing development and support of those volunteers is vital.”

RDAI is extremely grateful to both Sport Ireland for the funding and to Horse Sport Ireland for supporting their application.