New carriage is fantastic for disabled participants

A CARRIAGE-DRIVING group for disabled participants has bought a new carriage with a grant made possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Argyll RDA Carriage Driving group, part of Riding for the Disabled Association, purchased the lightweight Fenix Freedom carriage to improve the overall experience for its drivers, volunteer helpers and ponies.

Argyll RDA Carriage Driving group is based near Benderloch. With its two ponies, Red and Dixie, the group provides access to the great outdoors – country lanes, quiet tracks and a beautiful beach – to around 15 disabled adults and young people in the local area. Participants also learn the skill of carriage driving, entering competitions at regional and national levels. The impact of the new carriage has been fantastic,’ said the group’s co-ordinator, Jane Isaac.

‘Our drivers find it much more manoeuverable, which really helps them to develop their skills, and the ponies benefit from the lighter weight. We are so grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

‘Importantly, when we attend a competition, this carriage is very similar to mainstream carriages, meaning the stigma of the old-fashioned carriages designed to disguise wheelchairs is eliminated – we embrace our limitations and love to participate.’

The project has been so successful it has spurred the group to expand and fundraise for a second carriage so that even more people can benefit.