Riding school for disabled has returned...
First riders welcomed back
WENLO Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has welcomed back its first riders since all RDA activities were suspended due to the national lockdown in March.
Before being able to restart, Wenlo RDA and its home riding school, Meadow School of Riding at Normanton-on-Soar, have taken measures including introducing strict social distancing and handwashing policies, a zoning system and completing new risk assessments.
“RDA UK, our national body, notified us that they are satisfied with the measures we have put into place and given us the goahead to restart operations,” a Wenlo trustee said.
“While that is great news, we do have to abide by the current guidelines about social distancing and this means that, for the time being, we can only offer sessions to riders who can ride independently (that is, without needing a leader or sidewalkers). We are hoping to be able to offer a wider variety of lessons or other activities soon.”
Wenlo was one of only three RDA groups in the East Midlands to have been given permission by RDA UK to restart.
The forced closure of all RDA groups around the UK has had a significant negative impact on physical and mental wellbeing, confidence levels and social skills, leaving many disabled people unable to access regular exercise and social activities.
2020 is Wenlo RDA’s 30th anniversary but the lockdown has meant that plans for celebrations have been put on hold.
RDA groups up and down the country have been struggling financially during lockdown, and with no income Wenlo has been trying to find any way it can to fund the upkeep of the horses and ponies it relies on - from applying for grants to holding a sunflower growing competition and selling bags of manure.
A spokesperson added: “We would like to thank everyone whose hard work, generous donations and dedication means that we have been able to get through the lockdown and can now start sessions again. There are still tough times ahead for everyone and it will be a long time before we are fully back to ‘normal’.
“As we resume sessions again, we are also keen to welcome new volunteers who might be interested in helping us to provide sessions, as some of our regular volunteers are themselves particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and are still shielding.”
If you are interested in supporting Wenlo or in volunteering, please call 07860 245675 or email wenlo.rda@hotmail.co.uk