FOR the past 15 years, students from schools around the region have had the
chance to learn horsemanship skills through the Riding for the Disabled
Association (RDA) program.
There are currently 24 riders participating in the
Swan Hill based program, with some longtime participants having been a part of
the program for the past eight years.
The program is part of a nationwide
initiative to teach young people with disabilities equestrian skills, and
through this, help them to develop skills to participate in sporting,
competition and recreational activities with their peers.
RDA coach Maralyn
Morrison said all of the students had shown immense improvement, not only in
their riding but also in their personal skills.
“Some kids can now canter
independently, considering that they only come once a week during school time
it’s great,” she said.
“It’s therapeutic, social and educational for the kids
and helps with their concentration…[there is improvement] in speech, and also
their interaction with the handlers and their horse.”
For more of this story, see Wednesday’s Guardian (May 29).
