Volunteers needed to help drive pony charity
Volunteers are needed to help a Benderloch-based carriage driving group for the disabled, writes Fiona Scott.
The group’s driving sessions start in earnest in April but new recruits are needed beforehand so they can get to know the equipment.
Argyll Riding for the Disabled Carriage Driving Group hopes an appeal, riding on the back of a volunteer day on March 30, will attract more helpers.
Anyone interested can call in at the stables at Baravullin Beag between 10am to noon to meets the other volunteers, meet the ponies, have a drive if they are interested and get an idea of how they could help out. There will also be coffee and cake.
The group’s new cob on the stable block Tiny Tim, who arrived at the end of last year has been training hard this winter.
Tiny Tim, the 13.1hh coloured pony is now being ridden and is about to be assessed as the group’s new driving pony. At the weekend he took part in his first Pony Club rally.
Tiny Tim came to Benderloch after being spotted on a British Driving Association website. His previous family near Oxford had outgrown him and the Argyll group snapped him up.
The cob, who will be working with other pony Red at the yard, replaced Dixie who had spent three years with the group and went to the Brae Riding for the Disabled Group in Dundee as a riding pony.
People come to the carriage driving group by referral or by word of mouth, from around Oban and as far as Fort William and Campbeltown.
Carriage driving suits some people better than getting on a pony – they get on a vehicle instead and can go quite fast and steer. There is no age barrier. The oldest driver has been in their 90s and the youngest so far was six.
There’s a social side to it as well – families and friends are welcome at the yard too, said Jane Isaac, the RDA’s Argyll carriage driving group organiser.
Once the season starts again in April there will be a number of driving sessions, including ones for a school-age group, a regular group and for residents from the Lynn of Lorn care home in Benderloch.
‘It is important to stress that a volunteer with us does not have to have the faintest knowledge of horses, nor the least inclination to touch one or drive one.
‘We absorb people from all walks of life and life skills are really what makes a good volunteer I think.
‘Practical skills such as equestrianism and cycling are great; we also always need the nurturers in life who will help the drivers fit their hat, have a cup of tea, get warmed up and so on. We also love help with secretarial duties, anything in the way of modern technology and social media, cleaning harness – and we do like cake!’ said Mrs Isaac.
Interested? Email janeisaac@outlook.com or go to facebook.com/ ArgyllRDADriving/