Claire Chandler, Author at Herefordshire RDA

21Mar 2023 by Claire Chandler

Come Join The Team! Part-time Groom Required

Job Status: Permanent Part Time Hours: 20 hours over 5 days including one weekend day Salary: 19,000+ Pro rataAn opportunity has arisen to join our team at our dedicated Equine Centre at Holme Lacy, Herefordshire. We are looking for an individual who is committed to delivering a high standard of equine care and coaching to help fulfil our clients needs. Herefordshire RDA is a registered charity delivering equine therapy sessions to over 70 people each week with a variety of additional needs. This includes adults, children and various school groups who attend the Centre. This is an exciting time to join the charity as we have purchased a new site just outside Ross on Wye and are in the planning process to build a new Equestrian Centre where we can…

31Jan 2023 by Claire Chandler

AGM Thursday 16th Feb from 6.30pm at the Shell Store.

Events, Uncategorized

We are delighted to invite you to our 2023 AGM, this year it will be held on Thursday 16th February 2023 from 6.30pm until 8.30pm at the Shell Store Incubation Centre in Rotherwas, HR2 6JT All RDA riders, supporters & volunteers are very welcome to attend, there will be tea, coffee and cake provided at the meeting. This years meeting will cover an update on our current financial situation, approving last year's accounts and giving an update on our plans to take the RDA forward in 2023/24, plus rider and volunteer awards. It is free to attend - just register yourself with link 1, decide if you want voting rights and become a member of HRDA and pay £1 with link 2 Link 1 - Pre-register here to attend - https://forms.office.com/e/C2Ey7Wrjnt Link 2 - It…

19Dec 2022 by Claire Chandler

Christmas Holiday!

Horses, Uncategorized

It's that time of year again when all the RDA horses go off on their Christmas break to enjoy some well deserved rest and relaxation in the field Oh! What a wonderful time they will all have...... HRDA centre will be closed from the Monday 19th December until Thursday 5th January 2023. All the HRDA team would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

06Sep 2022 by Claire Chandler

30th Celebration Tea Party Success

communication, Donations, Events, Fundraising, Uncategorized

We can’t say thank you enough! All of us at Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled would like to thank each and everyone of you who attended and made donations on Saturday 20th August 2022. HRDA Centre manager Claire Chandler and RDA coach said: Our 30th celebration Tea Party was a great success, over 80 people attended; including the Mayor and High Sherriff of Hereford, which gained a lot of press and we raised over £450.00 on the day from the raffle, mechanical horse rides and tea/cake stall.Claire Chandler The money raised from the event will directly help HRDA to continue providing therapeutic riding sessions for disabled riders from all over the county of Hereford. Again, huge thanks from all of us and we hope we can continue to count on…

19Jul 2022 by Claire Chandler

Tea Party Fundraiser – Sat 20 August – save this date!

Events, Fundraising, Uncategorized

We are planning a fabulous summer tea party and fundraiser to commemorate 3 decades at Holme Lacy and celebrate all of our valued support from volunteers, managers and horses over the years - and of course our riders. This will take place 1pm-3.30pm (free admission via a prebooking link on Eventbrite - watch this space!) We'll have a super RAFFLE and tunes from the 1990's onwards, plus activities and cake, plenty of cake! Details to follow - be ready to share with friends SATURDAY 20 AUGUST for the afternoon.

19May 2022 by Claire Chandler

Treat the ponies and support HRDA

Donations

There is a new way to support us. We've created an Amazon Wish List. If you want to donate to us but would rather buy us a gift, just click the link. Why not take a peek? Everything's super useful and will go straight to our therapeutic services. You can format in cost order to spend £5 or upwards - some items are for the horses as a treat, like the salt licks, which they love to have! Other horsey bits are fly sprays, fly masks, grooming brushes, hoof spray and head collars in three sizes. We’d love a couple more wheelbarrows for the yard at some point, plus a broom or two. Your support and care is always appreciated! We know you like to shop local but as a rural…

12May 2022 by Claire Chandler

Volunteer Drive – summer 2022

Uncategorized, Volunteering

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK is Mon 9 May to Sun 15 - to explore the experience of loneliness, its effect on our mental health and how we can all play a part in reducing loneliness in our communities. We believer our supportive environment can help many more people with all kinds of social anxieties. We want to try and help!As you may know, Holme Lacy is home to up to ten RDA horses, a range of dedicated volunteers and two staff. Everyone is trained and qualified to deliver the best possible riding experiences - based on user needs, personal ambitions and therapeutic goals. VOLUNTEERS ARE KEY TO OUR DELIVERYDemand is currently outstripping supply for our range of therapies, so we have initiated a recruitment drive for new VOLUNTEERS- help with…

26Apr 2022 by Claire Chandler

New! Supporter meetups: first Weds of month, 12-3pm

Events, Horses, Volunteering

Now summer is coming we'd love to see more of you - come back in person to chat about our activities at Holme Lacy, so that we can help supporters to self manage a couple of mini project plans around our upcoming fundraising. We'd like to welcome everyone on a regular day and time, so this can also double up as a drop in for other visitors who could like a chat with everyone. We suggest the first Wednesday of the month, 12 til 3pm: 90 minutes structured + 90 minutes for guests to improvise or drop in Lets all share ideas for activities to raise money / plan events / welcome pony sponsors and any new volunteer drop ins to find out what we do! FIRST 3 DATES: Wed…

19Apr 2022 by Claire Chandler

Hereford Buffs Race Night – fundraiser

Donations, Events, Fundraising, Horses

First Race 19:30 - Railway ClubSaturday 23rd April 2022GWRSA, BARTON YARD, HR4 OAZ This weekend there is a charity fundraiser for HRDA in Hereford at the Railway Club, by Hereford Buffs. It is a racing evening where you can enjoy watching some equine sports and donate to support our therapy horses and riders. Take a friend and enjoy some camaraderie to support the therapies we offer. Some of the names in the re-runs might be familiar, but our calm ponies are not the actual racers! Free Entry. DONATE CASH FOR DISABLED RIDERS& SUPERB THERAPY HORSESDINKY - TILLY - MG - LADY - POPPY - RILEY - BLUECall 07412 178705 or email: brian.wallace@hotmail.co.uk

12Apr 2022 by Claire Chandler

Easter Fun Day:

Volunteering

HEREFORDSHIRE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED at Hintons, Leominster 10am - 3pm on Saturday 16 April 2022 Hintons Country and Garden in Leominster are hosting an Easter Fun Day for all the family this Easter Saturday, 16 April from 10am - 3pm. The event is free, although donations are encouraged for participating charities. Lambs, chicks and a pony will be on site. Fun activities include a Draw the Easter Bunny Competition, Treasure Hunt, Face Painting, Plant a Sunflower, Pet Photography, Hintons Raffle, special shopping discounts and more … Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled (HRDA) are attending alongside Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue, RSPB, Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue and Pets As Therapy. In line with growth planning for national RDA groups, HRDA is recruiting volunteers to build the team…

05Apr 2022 by Claire Chandler

RDA Strategy for 2022-2025; ‘Transforming Lives Across the UK’

communication

The RDA Strategy for 2022-2025 is called ‘Transforming Lives Across the UK’ (with pdf, Word and audio versions and a new publicity film too). There is also a lovely message of support and thanks from our President, HRH The Princess Royal;“This new strategy signals a moment of change and opportunity for all of us involved in RDA as we seek to re-build and resume our work following a difficult two years. United by our goal to bring the benefits of horses to as many disabled people as possible, we have a chance to make even more of a difference to communities all over the UK.During my visits to RDA groups over my years as President, I have seen first-hand the life-changing impact of our activities, brought about by that unique…

16Mar 2022 by Claire Chandler

Horse Care classes are starting!

Horses, Therapeutic services

If you fancy spending time with our RDA horses and learning how to care for them, these new Horse Care sessions will hit the spot! We offer small group sessions for a range of ages and abilities. Participants will gain practical equine skills across handling and leading, feeding and watering, grooming, tack and equipment, plus general horse anatomy and physiology. Share this knowledge with family, friends, teachers or carers! The six week module includes a certificate on completion. The cost is £12 per session for 45 minutes. This is a huge hint - these classes make a terrific gift if you know anyone feeling a bit stuck indoors with social anxiety as they can do it with a friend, or make new contacts and you can pool Birthday money or…

16Mar 2022 by Claire Chandler

HIPPOTHERAPY RETURNS TO HRDA

Therapeutic services

Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled welcomes the re-introduction of equine-based therapy at Holme Lacy this Spring, to support even more riders in the local community. Hippotherapy is when a coach uses horse riding as a therapeutic or rehabilitative treatment. The horse’s motion can improve coordination, balance, and strength while having fun. Physiotherapist Vicky Fudge leads the Hippotherapy sessions, and Vicky says; “Working closely with HRDA is terrific - because we share the same goals to give younger riders more confidence.” Vicky delivers her enhanced support live on horseback or via the centres’ mechanical horse (he’s called ‘Steady Eddie’). Slots are open to book for child riders in half hour blocks. Individual sessions are £35 for thirty minutes each week. To apply for Hippotherapy please email us on admin@rdahereford.org - and…

16Mar 2022 by Claire Chandler

SPRING 2022 NEWSLETTER

communication, Horses, Uncategorized, Volunteering

Give us a nudge if you haven't yet seen our latest newslettter! We are expanding the outreach and welcome new readers. Inside, you will find volunteer event news, donor updates and our new services and schedules for classes like our new HORSE CARE weekly sessions, or specialised HIPPOTHERAPY support with a visiting physio, Vicky Fudge (applications to book for these are via admin@rdahereford.org). This issue also plugs our team of #HRDAtalent22 -with the riders and volunteer awards for exceptional dedication - well done everyone.

10Jan 2022 by Claire Chandler

FESTIVE OPEN DAY AND RAFFLE 2021

Events, Fundraising

We'd like to acknowledge everyone who supported our festive Open day and Grand Raffle, Dec 15 2021.The fundraiser generated £322.50 toward our running costs. Tilly came out for a meet and greet, Steady Eddie rocked the tinsel and several people got lucky with raffle wins. We thank the generous businesses in our community for offering such good prizes:WAITROSE - festive hamper HEREFORD DELI – festive hamperPAUL LIGAS PHOTOGRAPHY – art print (choose from web) THE COURTYARD – 2 cinema vouchersRADWAY BRIDGE - shopping voucherCROCHET BLANKET - hand made UNISEX MITTENS - hand knittedWILD COCKTAILS - hardback recipe book WESTONS – cidersPROSECCO - bottleCHOCOLATE - treatsPOLLYPAINT PONY – 2 horsey childrens booksBAILEYS HORSE FEEDS – horse treats voucher WYNNSTAY - 5'6" horse rugHORSEY SPONSORSHIP - win a year of #HRDA pony…

16Nov 2021 by Claire Chandler

Daniel and Lady qualify : RDA National Championships 2021

Uncategorized

Back in July we were thrilled to submit some of our riders to the virtual regional qualifiers at the National RDA Championships. Everyone achieved strong results, gaining rosettes and certificates to mark the occasion. Daniel Bailey was our NC qualifier, (going over the 63% threshold), and achieving great feedback from the Judge with a score of 67% on an unled walk and trot. Very well done to Daniel and to our fabulous pony, Lady!

30Mar 2021 by Claire Chandler

Welcome back from the 12th April!

Uncategorized

We're pleased to announce with lockdown restrictions easing, we are reopening the Herefordshire RDA centre on Monday 12th April 2021, this is in line with the governments’ second phase of the easement plan.At Christmas all the RDA horses and ponies went for a two-week staycation at a nearby farm and were well looked after by one of our amazing volunteers and their family. As the end of the year approached everyone was looking forward to their Christmas festivities and the two-week break, after a very difficult 2020! The centre closed its doors on Friday 18th December after the final lesson was completed.On Monday 4th January the RDA staff and horses returned to the centre. It was full swing ahead to get everything set up and ready to welcome our riders…

12Feb 2020 by Claire Chandler

Stable Management Lessons

Uncategorized

Come along this half term and learn more about horse care and stable management. All participants will learn about grooming, horse health and daily care tasks. Everyone will also get an RDA proficiency certificate, badge and rosette. Sessions: Monday 17th February: 10 am - 11amWednesday 19th February: 10am - 11amThursday 20th February: 10am - 11am and 1.45pm - 2.45pm To book a place - please contact Emily in the office (admin@rdahereford.org) or call 01432 870831

11Jan 2020 by Claire Chandler

Volunteers Urgently Required

Uncategorized

We are in urgent of need of more volunteers to enable us to run riding therapy sessions at our base at Holme Lacy College. At present, we have new clients on our waiting list and can't offer them riding therapy due to not having enough volunteers. Volunteering with us involves either helping in a riding session, leading a pony or walking beside a rider, or helping on our stable yard with practical tasks. There is no requirement for any experience of horses or working with disabled clients before - as full training is given. We are looking for people able to help for 1 hour a week (or more if you can ) on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm. Our volunteers find helping at the…

08Mar 2015 by Claire Chandler

Little Star

Horses

A Big Hoorahhhhhhhh, Little Star is now a fully fledged member of the HRDA Team. Thankyou to her owner Heather Dixon for allowing us to have her with us.