Gunnedah Riding for the Disabled (RDA) meets at the Gunnedah Showground to provide equine assisted activities to people with disabilities.
Multiple schools in the area are involved through the use of the charity’s service or by lending a helping hand to volunteers.
The Gunnedah RDA has been grateful for the donations from businesses and clubs around town, whether that be money or food for the horses. All the current horses are owned by the RDA.
“Everyone has been rather generous around town,” Gunnedah RDA’s Renee Hooke said.
“It keeps the horses fed.
“They are all the things we need to think about. Feeding horses, keeping them healthy.”
She also mentioned the positive experiences participants gain from the sessions.
“The enjoyment the children get from the contact with horses is just mind-blowing,” she said.
Also in agreement was president of the Gunnedah RDA Richard White who said while volunteer numbers are low, they also receive some help from students.
“The children riding horses enjoy it and also the girls and boys from the high schools,” Richard said. “They are a great help.”
One of the helpers was year 10 student Lilyan Morton from Gunnedah High School.
She has been helping the RDA for the last four years and said she enjoys working with the horses and interacting with the children.
“You get used to it after a while, and that’s pretty fun when you get into it,” she said.
