Riding for the Disabled Association NSW Spring/Summer 2012 Congratulations “Tall Timbers” on your 40th Birthday NEWS FROM THE CENTRES “Tall Timbers” A Milestone Celebration – 40 years of RDA “Tall Timbers” In April 1972 our Founder, Pearl Batchelor, held her first riding class for people with disabilities at West Pennant Hills. On the 23rd October, 1972 a meeting took place with the name and constitution being established. Much has happened in the 40 years since then. The years have been absolutely jammed with RDA riding, driving and vaulting programmes, competitions, workshops, various activities, awards for both riders, drivers and volunteers and the many fundraising events. There has been so many people involved with the establishment, continuing growth, day to day routines of “Tall Timbers” it would be impossible to name them all. “Tall Timbers” Centre has been recognised by RDANSW as the founding Centre of Riding for the Disabled Association in New South Wales. We have so much to be proud of: the opportunities that can be given to people with disabilities coming to us either with a group or as individuals and their achievements no matter what size; the volunteers’ achievements and generosity of time and energy; the memories that our special horses over the years have created and the commitments our coaches, committee and staff, past and present have made. There has been an amazing contribution from so many different people from all walks of life, to come together and make our Centre what it is today. Fundraising is constant and at times, challenging. We no longer have lamington drives with the abundance of coconut, jokes and cleaning up or Beef and Heifer shows in the indoor arena. In this day and age some functions just do not bring in the funds as they used to. Catering at the Castle Hill Show has been going on forever and takes quite a bit of “people power” but with everyone pulling together these and other fundraising events have been successful and at times very entertaining. Working bees and individual input continue as they have in previous years for the improvement of the facilities for our riders, drivers, volunteers and horses. Sponsors, supporters and volunteers are always precious to us. Also treasured are our family members, friends and neighbours that help us when they can. Promotion of RDA and the “Tall Timbers” Centre is also ongoing, whenever we are out in the public eye or at stands at various events and shopping centres. Special mention and thanks must go to our equine partners, their unique contribution gives so much pleasure and provides so many benefits and opportunities. In our 40th year – RDA “Tall Timbers” programmes are ongoing and being expanded and the property at Box Hill continues to be improved. The water tanks and dam are full and the grass is green. Our riders are beaming and we are smiling with them. We continue on, working together as a team, to provide equine assisted activities for people with disabilities to develop and enhance abilities. by Karen O’Neill, Honorary President MY STORY OF THANKS - RENEE SMITH I was first introduced to Tall Timbers in 2003 during my school's yr 10 work experience program. I enjoyed the experience, so I returned as a volunteer straight after I finished my last HSC exam, and continued on into the next year where my Uni timetable allowed. Volunteering was not only a very rewarding experience, but more importantly, for a young person it was a learning experience. I took away many life lessons from spending time with the riders especially. “Focus on what I can do, not what I can’t” became very important to me a few years later, and was the attitude that helped me stick at it and not give up. Thank you Tall Timbers for taking on young volunteers and giving them the opportunity to learn as I did. In 2008 I sustained an injury that doctors first thought was causing sciatica, and would right itself in time. Unfortunately my condition worsened, and scans 2 months later showed what I had really done. The bottom part of my spine had been moved over the right (luckily still protecting most of my spinal cord though), leaving the edge of some of my vertebrae holding my weight, damaging discs and nerve roots for my legs- my right leg in particular, causing weakness and loss of sense in some areas. I’ve spent the past three years working with a team at a rehab hospital, and while everyone there was nice to be around, I struggled with the changes. My injury meant that I had to give up horse riding (showjumping was my chosen horse sport), but it was always something that I wanted to do again. When my doctors and rehab team finally consented to the idea of trying riding again, I decided to ask Nicole for advice. She was able to find a space in a class, riding the trust-worthy and bomb-proof Apex. I started riding at the beginning of this year, while at the same time taking a break from the formal rehab hospital program. People would ask why I was riding again when it caused increased pain, fatigue, and carried a risk of further damage if I had a bad fall from a horse. Tall Timbers gives us riders the chance to show that disability doesn’t rule our lives. A special thank you to the horses who take good care of us and adapt to the different ways that we ride. At first there was some scepticism as to whether swapping a team of therapists and their rehab plan for a 45 min sit on a walking horse was such a good idea or if it would bring any benefit. My neuro physio and I spent last year playing left and right games, mirroring her movements, walking while we throw a ball back and forth etc. By the end we hadn’t really progressed far and I was quite frustrated! I saw her the week before I started riding, and then again in late September. She was amazed at the changes she saw and especially how I was moving with more symmetry. Here was only one of the pieces of evidence that horse riding therapy combined with the games designed by the coaches has great benefits. I’ve been able to share more exciting changes with Joan and the Monday volunteers. My previously uneven walking gait is looking more balanced, I now have less falls thanks to improved balance, I can take my feet in and out of the stirrups by myself, and I smile, laugh and have fun. These changes may seem small, but to me they are really exciting, as my progress with other rehab programs had reached a plateau. It encouraged me to not give up hope that I can still keep improving. Being at Tall Timbers has also helped to change my attitude towards my disability. Previously my stubborn and determined will meant that I wanted to go on being “normal”- I wanted to still do everything by myself, having people do things for me would leave me feeling useless, I didn’t like accepting living aids, and therefore made life harder for myself than what it needed to be. Thank you Tall Timbers for being an environment safe from judging, where I could learn to be me and that there’s nothing wrong with that. Accepting people’s help is now something that fills in the gaps between the things that I can do, and together we are a team. I cannot thank every involved at Tall Timbers enough for the piece of my life that you’ve given back to me. While at times it hasn’t been easy and frustrating when I want to ride like I used to, being around people who encourage me to focus on what I can do rather than trying to be like others, and seeing examples of para equestrians who develop their own way of communicating with their horse, has been a great motivator. I am now determined to continue riding and developing my own riding ability. Sometimes just being able to smile and have fun is more than enough, so I thank the Tall Timbers team for making therapy fun. Tamworth Volunteers were recently saddened by the sudden death of Duncan Martin’s wife Roberta. Duncan is a Life Member, a past secretary and a hard working volunteer. Most of our volunteers attended Roberta's funeral to support Duncan and his family. Roberta herself was very much involved in community work over many years. In the past few weeks our Centre has had the use of three new ponies. They are only about 35” high, but wonderfully quiet to use for our really small client riders and adult groomers. “Addie is a Cremello mare, “Buttons” a skewbald mare and “Tonto” a skewball gelding whose owner/ volunteer brings him in each week. The three of them are very popular with volunteers and clients. On a recent weekend our Centre volunteers were invited to man the BBQ at Tamworth's huge“Tonto” new Bunning's & Brenda, “Addie”Store which & Tony is &the “Buttons” largest &store Nicole in regional Australia. We had two big days with many volunteers helping for the time they could. 3000 sausages were sold over the two days. We were fortunate to make a good profit which will be used to maintain our Centre operations. The Centre’s grounds are looking lovely at present after a mild summer and plenty of rain.