Challenges ahead for RDA

Horsham Riding for the Disabled no longer manages the ‘Riverside Equestrian Centre’ indoor arena and will now have to pay to use the grounds and complex.

The Horsham group has successfully run the indoor arena since it was constructed and opened in 1996.

These changes have had devastating effects on Horsham Riding for the Disabled – our volunteers will have to do more fundraising than previously.

However, we have many wonderful members and I am confident they are willing and able to meet this new challenge.

I was there in the 1990s and part of the large fundraising group that campaigned and achieved the construction of the ‘Riverside Equestrian Centre’ building.

The late John Bennett was the instigator and driving force behind the concept of an indoor arena for Horsham.

The recent changes at the Riverside complex have prompted me to write and let the public know the history of Horsham Riding for the Disabled.

In July 1981, Elsie Jeffries, Annette Heard and Dorothy Adamson called for helpers and horses to begin a Riding for the Disabled, RDA, branch at Horsham.

The first ridden session was at Ken and Jan Croser’s Green Lake property where 15 riders took part under Jan’s instruction. Another session was at Connie Wong Shee’s property out on Dooen Road.

In early 1983 the group began to have their sessions at Haven’s Karkana property.

The group had raised money to fence an area there to hold riding groups on the last Friday of each month.

Edwin Schultz from Quantong was a very active helper as well as providing horses for the riders along with two other early instructors, Beth Sanders and Lyn Smith.

By 1985 the group met twice a month on every second Friday and then, in 1986, members built a shelter for the riders. In the early 1990s Margaret Burgess and Sandra Pollock were also instructing and the group had many more helpers, including Stan and Olive Hammond from Noradjuha.

Marjorie Cavanagh, Di Farnsworth and Tina Pallot from Horsham and John Bennett from Wartook had joined the group.

Indoor centre

In 1993 John provided a special cart for the group to take disabled people for drives.

John was one of the main instigators for raising money to build an indoor arena for the RDA and Jill Coutts led the fundraising committee.

With a combined effort of many horse groups and individuals the indoor arena was built at Riverside Recreation Reserve and opened in December 1996.

The Riverside Recreation Reserve is common ground and controlled by Riverside Recreation Committee. It is shared by the RDA, Horsham Pony Club, Wimmera Equestrian Club and Horsham District Equestrian Sports Club.

The pony club was originally at Horsham Racecourse, then Horsham Showground before moving to Riverside in the 1970s. The joint club room at Riverside was originally the Riverside Hall, which was built by the Riverside Cricket Club and was used as a change room by the cricket and tennis clubs.

This was the second hall at Riverside on the same site.

At one time the Riverside tennis courts were also where the RDA indoor arena is today.

Horsham RDA purchased 11 acres beside the recreation reserve to keep their horses.

Life members of the RDA are Elsie Jeffries, Olive and Stan Hammond, Sandra Pollock, John Bennett, Janice Croser, Marjorie Cavanagh, Betty Storey, Alan Baudinette, Tina Pallot, Hennie and Bill Neve, Margaret Howard, Alison Silcock, Wendy Donald, Brenda Bath and Geoff Hammond.

Geoff, who is the son of Olive and Stan Hammond, is Horsham RDA’S longest-serving rider after starting at the very first rally.

The RDA is run by volunteers and financed internally with submission writing, fundraising events, donations, hiring of the indoor arena and fees paid by riders.

The group has rallies on Fridays and alternate Wednesdays, except during school holidays.