RIDING for the Disabled Association of Western Australia have set up a new Riding Develops Ability centre at the Capel Regional Equestrian Park.
RDAWA is a voluntary not-for-profit organsation that provides quality equestrian and therapeutic services to participants from the Bunbury, Donnybrook, Capel and Busselton areas.
The RDA centre in Capel was established to help combat participant waiting lists at RDAWA’s Collie and Bunbury branches.
President Carol Brice said although planning for the Capel RDA commenced from August last year, the centre’s riding programs did not officially begin until May this year and still needed more volunteers, both humans and horses.
“This is because we have a waiting list of people wanting to participate in our riding programs at Capel RDA and also to support the existing small team of volunteers and horses who have reached their capacity in such a short time,” she said.
“The list of benefits of RDA Capel programs for children and adults is enormous and the range extends across physical, psychological, recreational and social activities.
“Riding For Disabled is not just a horse ride but a learning and fun experience.”
Ms Brice said there were three programs RDA Capel offered clients.
“Hippotherapy is conducted by a trained team including a physiotherapist which is part of the client’s physiotherapy treatment,” she said.
“Walking With Horses is a program for individual clients who benefit from learning and interacting with the horse on the ground work.
“And Therapeutic Horse Riding is on horse back with lessons tailored to the client’s abilities and needs.”
Krista Veurink’s three year old daughter Sage attends a Hippotherapy session once a week for half an hour.
Sage completes a number of exercises atop of a horse to help her strengthen her core muscles and develop her speech.
“Her confidence with talking is pretty amazing,” Ms Veurink said of Sage’s progress since taking part in the program.
“She never used to talk in front of other people unless she knew them really really well, but now she will talk in front of these ladies and even if I go to the shops she will talk out loud now.
“And she is not so tired all the time and can sit up straight now.”
The Apex Club in Busselton supported the opening of the new Capel centre by donating a First Aid kit to the organisation.
For more information about the RDA Capel centre or to get involved, call Carol Brice on 0437 441 670 or email capel@rdawa.org.au.
