Horsing around

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Friday, 27 December 2024

Ten-year-old Piper is putting on her boots as she prepares to ride Pippi, a 20-year-old Welsh pony at Riding for the Disabled in Wantirna South.

“It’s fun,” she says. “I ride by myself. You go around the sticks and step over them. We don’t jump because we don’t want Pippi to get injured.”

Today’s ride is in a purpose-built grass arena with a mounting ramp and hoist.

“It’s so hard because Pippi loves grass and she stops to eat it,” Piper says.

There is a wait list of over 100 families wanting to join the program, which is run by community volunteers and has a youth volunteer program.

Piper’s mum Larissa Griffiths, a physiotherapist, says her family feels very fortunate to have been chosen from the wait list.

“Piper has benefited so much, she really loves coming,” Larissa says. “Piper’s been coming for two years and since that time I’ve noticed her confidence really improve.

“This is not just about riding the horse and the physical benefits but also her connection with the volunteers. It’s like another family for her, she really connects.

“She has physio, she has speech therapy – that’s great — but this is way more fun.”

Over the past five years, volunteers ranging from university vet students to retirees have built the centre from scratch to provide equestrian opportunities for people living with disability.

Council has provided several grants to improve safety and accessibility for participants, funding a defibrillator and First Aid kit and training, hand-rail fencing so participants can access the horse-riding area, and solar lighting for the horse stalls.

Council is funding a gymkhana event next year for about 120 participants, family members and volunteers at the centre.

Centre coordinator Kathryn Holden says more volunteers with skills in horse management and property maintenance are desperately needed.

“The site was built to meet waiting list demands in the area,” she says. “Our waiting list is currently closed due to the large numbers on our list at the moment.

“We provide opportunities to people with disabilities to experience the joy of horse related activities. Horses provide many benefits, including social, therapeutic and physical, depending on the person’s need.

“There are benefits not only for our participants but also for our volunteers. Our volunteers get a sense of purpose and they learn life skills through learning horse management.”

If you are interested in volunteering for RDA Knox, email [email protected]. For more information visit rdav.asn.au

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