At
our AGM held on 19th May at Rookley, there were a couple of changes to
the committee. Jill, who has held the position of Chairman for a number
of years had reluctantly stood down earlier and had been replaced by Carol
who had been co-opted into the position. Carol was formally accepted as
Chairman and thanked Jill for her many years of hard work.
Jean, who has held the position of secretary AND organizer, passed the
role of secretary to Jenny. She has worked tirelessly in both roles and
will continue to apply her expertise to organizing us all on Wednesdays.
Jo had also been co-opted and was accepted onto the new committee.
The
usual reports again were able to point out what a good season we had enjoyed
in 2009. Our President thanked everyone involved with the Island group
for their amazing support, not least the people who every week benefit
from the drives and rides. They are the people we do it for and it's great
to see them enjoy themselves so much.
We have had some magnificent fund raising efforts this year. (As reported
elsewhere on this site.) These efforts do so much more than just increase
the funds. The increase in awareness of our group, the sense of belonging
and the improvements to the group that the funds allow are all priceless.
Test Day. The group were again put to the test when Caroline Douglas, from RDA headquarters visited us to test Able Bodied Whips, Tracy and Robert and three ponies, Ruby, Leo and Fred. It was a long and, for the AB whips, a gruelling day. The animals behaved as well as we expect of them, not putting a foot out of place. Robert and Tracy where put through a theory test and a driving test. These tests took over an hour on a hot sunny day. The tension was almost too much to take as the judges evaluated the performances. We all knew that everything would be OK and that they would all pass - and we were right to have such confidence - all did indeed pass. Congratulations to them all. Leo not only passed but won the hearts of the testers - Caroline wanted to take him home!
Isle of Wight Community Action Awards. Jo had put forward the Island group to be considered for the Community Action Award. The Group were up against some very good organizations. They had to prepare a case for being given the award, which offered £250 cash, as well as the prestige of winning. The group could not be scrutinized on one of their driving days as the judges didn't work on Wednesdays. However they acquitted themselves very well and were runners up to Sailability, a very worthy charity that makes sailing available to people with disabilities. As runners up we were awarded a certificate and £100.
Jill
was presented with a hand painted glass vase and a collage of pictures
covering the time she was Chairman of the group
Picture
shows Jean, Jill, Peter and Jo with Leo.
WELL DUNN
Our
newest committee member, Jo Dunn deserves a huge pat on the back from
us all. She approached O2 - It's your community, suggesting that the IOW
RDA group deserved an award for all their achievement. The O2 judges agreed
with Jo and are making an award of £750 to help with the purchase
of a new 'small' carriage which is much needed.
You can click the link below to visit the O2 site.
Carriage Driving in Queensland Australia
In the local newspaper 'The Jimboomba Times', we had seen an advertisement stating that the Jimboomba Pleasure Drivers meet every week on a Sunday morning about 1 mile out of the village. Jeanette and I went along at 9.00 o'clock one Sunday morning. The group was described as people interested in anything to do with horses in harness so we did not quite know what to expect. It said some people attend with heavy horses used, not for work anymore, but for pleasure. When we turned up there were three or four horseboxes and the same amount of ponies with various traps. It was explained to us that the group do not meet in the summer months because of the extreme heat and all but three of them left as we arrived.
Robert and Sheila were about to sit down under a shelter from the sun to enjoy a cup of coffee. They greeted us warmly and offered us coffee and we soon became involved in conversation about ponies, carriages and the RDA. They, and a friend of theirs called Nancy, were amongst a hardy bunch who attended all year round and started early to avoid the heat of the day. Bob told me how he built his own trap from parts of various vehicles, cobbled together, the oldest part being the shafts that were nearly 100 years old.
Their pony, Akki, was untacked and grazing in whatever shade he could find. Robert told us how Akki was a rescued pony and how he had trained him to respond to voice commands. He said that he had a high verandah at home where he stood and threw carrots for Akki to find. He directed him by shouting 'left two, back three, right one' and so on. Sheila told me how she thought Akki had saved Robert's sanity after he suffered a 'sort of breakdown' after a serious illness. When Bob went to collect Akki, he brought him home in the back of his ute. (Utility vehicle or pick up truck). Akki was told to jump in the back, and that is what he did!
They offered to tack Akki up and put him to so that he could take Jeannette for a ride. Putting to was as follows: 'left two, stand - back three, stand, OK good boy' and it was all done! Robert then proceeded to drive Jeanette around a very large park with some gum trees and pretty coloured trees in the background. Later he gave the reins to Jeannette for her to take control and she drove for twenty minutes or so through the same parkland setting. Nancy was taking her pony, Kasper for a drive at the same time.
Upon
her return, Robert and Sheila offered to get lunch for us. They had unloaded
a large gas barbecue from the back of their ute and were busy frying free
range eggs from their own chooks and toasting bread. We declined their
kind offer despite their insistence that Sheila would drive into Jimboomba
and get some sausages and bacon for us. Nancy, who had never travelled
outside Queensland could not believe that the IOW was so small and had
so many people living on it. Some cattle stations in Queensland are nearly
as big as the Island!
"I guess you had to leave to make room for all those folks to move
about a bit", she said.
We
enjoyed their company and good conversation, leaving just before their
lunchtime. I had spread the gospel a little about the RDA but they were
already aware of the benefits of carriage driving for people with disabilities.
One of their members had just one leg and one arm. He had taught his pony
to help tacking up by lowering its head! We were unable to find a RDA
group in southeast Queensland that had facilities for carriage driving
and so were delighted to meet the Jimboomba Pleasure Drivers. Their kindness
and generosity were so much appreciated by us both.
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The Story about Molly was passed to me by Monica. She had seen it in a BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Serviceman's Association) Newsletter/Magazine. Neither of us can verify the story. I can just say that the story has appeared on many internet web pages. It is included here just as it appeared on line. The story confirms what we all know already - just what amazing creatures horses and ponies are! |
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Over and above
awards - and
the image on the button (above). I thought it was such an appropriate image for this story that I had to include it.. I remind people that the copyright © to the content of, and the Trademarks ™ used in this web site are owned by Riding For The Disabled Association.
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NEW GALLERY NEW GALLERY NEW GALLERY NEW GALLERY NEW GALLERY
We now have a new button on the left - 'GALLERY'
This
was included because the photographs on the site were all found on odd
pages. One click on the Gallery button will now take you to a page where
you will be able to find all the pictures of the IOW Group and some of
their activities.
If anyone has any pictures relating to our group, please email them to
me if you would like to see them displayed in our Gallery.
Sacha, all scrubbed up.
Sacha, Jo and Colin
| Colin
and Jo are pictured 'all dressed up' for the Bank Holiday May Day
celebrations at Havenstreet. Now we have seen how smart all three of you can look, we'll expect to see it every Wednesday! Congratulations to all three of you on such a magnificent turnout and especially to Jo for sharing the photograph with us. |
Elaine
and Clive driving 'Charlie'
| Elaine
is a relative 'newcomer to the IW Group. She and her husband, Eddie
have been coming along on Wednesdays for just over a year now. Elaine
had lost all her confidence after a riding accident left her seriously
injured. Elaine is very modest about her progress but the group
can all see how much her involvement has restored much of that lost
confidence. Charlie, Elaine's own pony, was thought to be a likely candidate to pull a trap and with the help of Clive, he was soon dragging old tyres around his paddock. Eddie thought it would take many weeks before Charlie was suitable to go into harness, but he was surprised when Charlie was between the shafts within a few sessions with Clive. He didn't expect to see Elaine driving herself so soon! Eddie tells me that none of this could have happened without the help and support of the RDA group and Clive. I'm sorry Eddie, it seems we have let you in for a load of expense - carriage, harness, shoes as well as losing Elaine to Charlie for hours on end. |
Click
the button below to read the article about us in "Carriage Driving
Magazine"
16th
July 2008.
Unable to use our regular venue and Brickfields being full of Happy Campers, we were unable to 'drive' today. Instead we met at 10:30 at the tea rooms of Quarr Abbey. It was a glorious day, bright warm sunshine in a beautiful setting. Many of the group commented on the various 'scents' which wafted across the gardens as you walked through them, principally Sweet Pea I think. Good company, good coffee and good wholesome scones etc., ensured that we all enjoyed our morning. No substitute for driving but most enjoyable all the same. Many people speculated about the foundation of the Abbey along with many other questions that came to mind. I have included a link to Quarr Abbey dot co dot uk below.
This
site will give all the information anyone could want regarding the Abbey.
I will be asking all of you questions next time we meet there so study
the site well!
Click
above to visit Quarr Abbey.
We
are so lucky to have the excellent facilities at
BRICKFIELDS HORSE COUNTRY - click the link to visit their website.
Articles
for sale and wanted.
These pages will be viewed by more and more people.
I am happy to use the pages to advertise 'stuff' for members
of the RDA and to include a 'Wanted' section.
If you want to use this facility, then please call or email me.
Peter
01983 562444
peter@iwcn.co.uk
COLLECTING TINS
We are looking for businesses who would be kind enough to display one of our collecting tins. The committee have already made stalwart efforts to place some of the tins but we could do with more tins 'out there'. They are used by people to put their small change in, and therefore the more places they are seen, the more funds we will raise.
If you can help with a location we can use - please call or email me.
Peter
01983 562444
peter@iwcn.co.uk
Trade
horses for steam engines and travel back in time to be transportedl in
somewhat larger carriages.
The IW RDA would like to thank the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for their
support of our group.
Click
the logo above to visit their website.
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