Friday 13th to Sunday 15th July
Hartpury College, Gloucestershire
SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST NEWS
Welcome to
West Mercia RDA
What is West Mercia RDA?
West Mercia RDA incorporates the 5 counties:
• Herefordshire
• Shropshire
• Staffordshire
• Warwickshire
• Worcestershire
The 5 counties embrace 37 RDA Member Groups delivering riding, carriage driving and vaulting for disabled people in their local area. These groups are run and supported by volunteers who are specially trained to deliver fulfilling, challenging and rewarding experiences using the horse and pony to achieve positive outcomes.
If you want to Volunteer for RDA:If you or someone you know is looking for a new challenge, or just the chance to socialise and have fun. Why not volunteer to help those that would benefit from equine assisted therapy.
With the support of people like you, who cheerfully give up their free time to help by investing a couple of hours each week, we can continue to provide our life-changing activities and increase provision to include the many needy people who are currently missing out.
RDA’s core activities are Riding, Carriage Driving, Vaulting (like gymnastics on horseback), Dressage and Show Jumping.
Why not find your nearest RDA Group today.
If you want to benefit from what our RDA groups provide:
It's good for:
- All ages and abilities
- Great physiotherapy
- Suitable for physical and learning difficulties, and is
- Recommended by Medical Professionals
- Competitions
- Education and Training Schemes
- Positive, Outcome Focused Environment
How can I find out more?
RDA Groups may provide all or some of these activities (shown below), so start by contacting your nearest RDA Group to see what's on offer, or chat to us about what you would like to do and find out how we may be able to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Physiotherapists within RDA:
Hippotherapy:
The Chartered Physiotherapists in Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy (CPTRH)
Contact your
RDA County Chairman
Herefordshire
01981 540773
Shropshire
07814 014006
Staffordshire
01785 824041
Warwickshire
01675 467676
Worcestershire
01905 780692
or
West Mercia RDA Regional Chairman
01691 661128
Forthcoming Events ...
updated 24/5/18
National Championships
Latest News
Toni Gasside receiving the Warwickshire Trophy
Regional Qualifiers
Well done to everyone who competed and good luck to all who qualified for the Championships in July.
Full results on Result Page
Congratulations
Max and his team
made it to
Everest Base Camp
Regional Fund Raising
Golf Day
Oswestry Golf Club
A Huge thank you to the President and Members of Oswestry Golf Club for hosting our Charity Day.
Their generosity and freely given effort enabled us to raise a substantial pot of money.
Winning Golf Team
SHROPSHIRE COUNTY VOLUNTARY WORK RECOGNISED
Over 430 years of loyal and dedicated
service to the disabled community of Shropshire was recognised on Tuesday.
Volunteers from across the County gathered at Walford and North Shropshire
College which hosted the County’s Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)
annual collective training day.
Jacky Whittle from Brockton Court RDA Group (Kemberton) is the County Chairman who put on the day. “We try to use quiet periods to gather volunteers so we can provide continuous professional development and bring people bang up to date with policy developments and training hints from National Office. And at the same time we like to acknowledge and recognise volunteers who give their energy, enthusiasm and time freely to help others.”
Peter Dickin of the Ludlow and District Group was presented his certificate and award recognising 40 years of service, Pat McGregor of the Baschurch & Loppington Group (35 years). Peter commented "that he always looked forward to seeing his friends and members of RDA at his stables and he hopes, to carry on to see if he can reach a number with 5 in it”.
Paralympic Superstars
Sophie Christiansen CBE,
Clive Milkins and Rio
proudly on hand to open the new arena named after Murphy a much loved now treasured in hte memory of all at Ride2Achieve.
RIDE 2 ACHIEVE SHOWS OFF PROGRESS
Redbrook Farm near Hereford opened its doors this week when Ride 2 Achieve RDA Group welcomed visitors, participants, friends and families to see the excellent forward strides made so far. Home to Ride 2 Achieve for 18 short months it is easy to see how the vision, enthusiasm and drive shown by Janet Alderton and her team have come together.
What an end of the year
Sophie Evans-Lee from Stratford upon Avon RDA group who, in front of her proud Dad Gareth and Grandmother Gill, was awarded the Stratford upon Avon Junior Para Sports award 2018 for her achievements in horse riding at the presentation dinner held on 19th January.
Sophie has also been shortlisted for for the Pride of Stratford award for Young Achievers
with the winner of this award being being announced on 9th February. Both awards are in partnership with Touch FM radio following her nominations that listed her achievements with horseriding
Sophie at the RDA Nationals
THE BIG RIDE COM
What a beautiful Day! The sun shone on us as we witnessed Sam Orde and a huge group of RDA families and friends, old and new, trot up around Lowlands Farm. Lowlands is soon to become the RDA National Training Centre and Sam has ridden hundreds of miles around all 18 regions covering 20 venues accompanied by countless riders, walkers and carriages in her special effort to raise funds for the project. Sam’s drive, leadership and commitment to the project have been exemplary so it was fitting that she finished the challenge in Warwickshire.
Full report on Warwickshire page
Shropshire’s Cavalier Centre
which for so long had been the dream of so many is finally on its way.
The Champagne and chocolate cake may not have said it all, but it was certainly a pointer to the future.
The Perry Riding School founded by Jane Barker in 1995, has been sited at her Shrewsbury home. The committed president who has been to the county to boost the project is the Marquis of Hertford and so many hopes now rest in the scheme that those involved in achieving it are determined to go the extra mile.
At the formal launch, Catherine, Lady Forester was on hand to cut the first turf.
See what we are up to and contribute using the link below to
RDA Coaching & Ideas
Contact your
RDA County Chairman
Herefordshire
01981 540773
Shropshire
07814 014006
Staffordshire
01785 824041
Warwickshire
01675 467676
Worcestershire
01905 780692
or
West Mercia RDA Regional Chairman
01691 661128
We will help you find a suitable Group
Recent Activities ...
National Championships
2017 Results
Friday 14th – Sunday 16th July 2017 at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire
The RDA National Championships is RDA’s flagship event, bringing together hundreds of competitors of all abilities in events including Dressage, Countryside Challenge, Vaulting, Horse Care & Knowledge, Arts & Crafts, Best Turned Out and Musical Ride
Congratulations to all competitors at this years Championships
and here for
West Mercia results
Musical Ride Success
Another first for Stratford upon Avon Group, as several of our riders gain "Getting Started" Endurance awards.
Riders and helpers enjoyed taking time checks at 0.5 km, 1 km, 1.5 km and 2 km markers around the tracks, adding focus and interest to our usual hacks. Well done Scarlett Jess and Archie for achieving 1km, and Anna, Jules, Peter, Fi, Issy, Louis, Ellis, Sasha, Harry and Lewis for covering 2 km at nearly 5km/hr. Huge thanks to our helpers who "power walked" to keep up with our enthusiastic riders! Here's some riders receiving their certificate and rosettes. “
REGIONAL TEAM USES THE SUMMER TO PROMOTE AWARENESS
"We have a great link with the Pony Club so let's see if we can help each other raise our profiles", and the display boards and fliers were brought out again. The Area 7 PC SJ Championships was the opportunity to let over 200 competitors, their family and friends in on the RDA secret. "Chatting on a one to one basis really was a great way to get our message across to folks, especially to those parents who are sometimes "flummoxed" when sons and daughters say they have to do something good for their D Of E and the like. We have had many follow up enquiries about volunteering and youngsters seeking detail about the YELA Scheme and the raffle made some money as a bonus.
Cardington and Rushbury Young Farmers Club
presented Shropshire County RDA and the Air Ambulance cheques for £1000.
Seen below receiving the cheque on behalf of Shropshire RDA
County Chairman Jackie Whittle and County Coach Lynne Munro.
Derwen RDA Group
3 riders and helpers on their last riding day before breaking for the summer holidays. Had their own RDA Big Ride to help raise funds for the National RDA Centre at Lowlands Warwickshire. They rode around the fields at Walford College where they are now based. Thanks to the Walford Equestrian staff for helping to make this possible and raise £150.
Well done Guys.
Warwickshire
Fun Day 2017
COACHING SKILLS AND ENTHUSIASM RECOGNISED
At the 2017 Warwickshire Fun Day, our Group Coach Karen was presented the Warwickshire County Trophy by our County Chair, Rosie, for outstanding services to the RDA Groups in the County over the past year. Karen is not only our Coach who has helped our riders to achieve great results at what ever their ability, but also helps at Lowlands and holds the post of County Coach giving advice and support to all the Warwickshire Groups. A well deserved award. Congratulations Karen and thank you from all of us at Stratford for all the tireless hours you give to us.
STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY
FUN DAY 2017
Some prize winners
