After the Summer break, riders at Riding for the Disabled (RDA) in Oakford are getting ready to jump back into the saddle for 2025.
But to ensure that everyone gets a chance to ride high, the team is looking for around ten new volunteers to come on board.
New volunteers would be asked to commit to one morning a week; either Monday, Thursday or Saturday. Although, more volunteers are especially needed during the Saturday riding program where four lessons with up to six riders in each are run each week.
Duties would include leading the horse or side-walking and supporting the rider, horse grooming, and helping to tidy up at the end of the day.
Riders on Saturdays can be a diverse lot, ranging from primary schoolers up to adults, and also have a wide range of physical, cognitive or mental health disabilities.
Giving assistance could be helping riders balance by supporting them with a steady hand, or sometimes just providing emotional support.
Volunteer Coordinator Lois Evans said no experience is necessary and all training is provided.
She also said that volunteers often tend to fall in love with the role.
“To see the things that our riders can accomplish, and being alongside them through their journey is really rewarding,” she said.
“It’s quite social too – you meet a lot of like-minded people.”
Shirley Kortenoeven was one of a ladies who started the centre in 2001 and confirmed that RDA Oakford was more like a family.
“The volunteers all bond,” she said. “Some of our volunteers might have nobody at home and find a network here, or perhaps have been through trauma and find relief doing this.
“The minute you drive up the driveway, you forget about the outside world. This really is a special little place.”
When The Examiner stopped by last Thursday to witness the magic, one prospective volunteer had already fallen under the spell.
“I heard about it on Curtin Radio this week and I came along today just to have a look to see if it was something I’d be interested in, and I’m totally sold,” Helen Watkins said.
“This is just beautiful, they’re just walking around singing. It’s lovely. I think I’ll be happy. I just hope I can do it.”
Helen recently lost her husband after a long and rich life together, and has been searching for something to give her purpose again.
“This is going to be good for me,” she said. “I needed something to help fill in my time. I do a lot of bike riding, and I go to pilates – but that’s all just about me. What I really need is to think about somebody else.”
For Kevin O’Connor, who has been a volunteer at RDA Oakford for a year and a half now, the experience has changed him for the better. He even thinks he might get more out of it than the riders.
“I wanted to help the young kids grow and evolve. Just seeing them smile, laugh and improve every time we have a session is just amazing,” he said.
“It really does give you so much pleasure and enjoyment. I’m always on a bit of a high on the way home.
“And I’m a lot more aware of people with disabilities, I have more empathy and I try to understand from their position a bit more now.”
He has some advice for anyone considering putting up their hand.
“It’s one of the best things you could really ever do.
“It’s not stressful; it’s so enjoyable. And it’s something you’ll get so much out of,” he said.
“Don’t think it’s going to be difficult, or you’re not going to be able to do it, or you don’t have the confidence, because they’ll train you, and teach you, and encourage you, and you’ll just fall in love with it.”
There are three upcoming training days for anyone interested in volunteering: from 9-11am on Monday 7, Thursday 10, and Saturday 15 of April.
To register your interest or find out more, it’s best to email Lois Evans at rdaoakfordvolunteers@gmail.com, or you can call her on 0404 077 248.
Read more about the impact the RDA Oakford has had on young lives: Horse Therapy for kids proves a winner
Photographs – Richard Polden.
