Riding for disabled seeks helpers
Volunteer organisations are calling for help during National Volunteer Week and the Manawatu Riding for the Disabled Association is no exception.
President Margaret Bowler, in her 27th year with the association, said the group had about 28 volunteers on its books, but more were needed to help the 60 riders.
The group helps people with disabilities enjoy safe, healthy, stimulating, therapeutic horse riding and equine-related activities.
Each child has one-on-one support from a staff member or trained volunteer. However, help is at an all time low.
It has six ponies, although with only a limited number of volunteers, only four can be used.
Bowler said a sense of stillness and calm pervades when children are carefully helped on to the waiting ponies. Tiny smiles start to flicker and attention becomes more focused.
Volunteers walk beside the horse, holding the child or watching them, and lead the horse around the arena.
‘‘It’s not a hard job. You may have to go out into the paddocks and that sort of thing, but if someone isn’t able then we just swap them into a different role,’’ Bowler said.
Riders have varied disabilities, both physical and mental, and are given goals to work through.
Volunteers also play a significant role elsewhere in the district, Manawatu Heart Foundation advocate Sally Darragh said.
Their efforts helped many of the 172,000 New Zealanders with heart disease to live a full and productive life, she said.
Volunteers were also the catalyst behind Feilding’s claim to 15 most beautiful town awards, Keep Feilding Beautiful chairwoman Reena Wallis said.
‘‘All the projects that get done by community groups around the town have an influence on that.’’
The organisation recently spearheaded the repainting of 10 Feilding bridges, which relied heavily on community support, Wallis said. More than 30 volunteers helped to paint the bridges over two weekends.
Manawatu mayor Helen Worboys said volunteering was the social fabric that brought people together.
She highlighted the CBD revitalisation project throughout 1990s as one of Feilding’s most significant. The council at the time showed no interest in backing the proposal, so it was left to a handful of dedicated volunteers.
‘‘It makes you feel better,’’ Worboys said.
The council recognises several ‘‘unsung heroes’’ each year through its Community Honours Awards.