Autumn is in full swing, the leaves are falling and it’s just past daylight savings. At the RDA we are getting the horses winter covers ready for the colder weather, we have stocked up our hay, thanks to some very generous hay donors, and we are preparing for our winter lessons. Although it seems like a while ago now, in late December we had a wonderful Christmas Celebration, kindly sponsored by BNZ. In January we had a great turn out for our Volunteer’s Ribbon Day and had a full house for both the Own Your Own Pony (OYOP) and Advanced OYOP programmes. In this newsletter there is information about the Ladies Charity Luncheon in which the Tauranga RDA is a joint recipient of the proceeds. We meet one of our current international students Ellie Winter from San Francisco in our Profile section. We also look at the book “The Horse and the Hurricane King” which was written by Loretta Crawford whose son, Charlie, has ridden with the RDA and inspired this heartwarming story.

Ladies Charity Luncheon to support the Tauranga Riding for the Disabled and Hawaiki Raising Voyaging Trust.

Opening of Legacy Gardens in PapamoaThe Fundraising and Marketing Manager, Kaasandra, attended the opening of Legacy Gardens in Papamoa on the 17 March. The new funeral home also functions as a community space for the local church to congregate. The opening was attended by the Mayor, Greg Brownless, the MP for the BoP, Todd Muller, and other Bay of Plenty dignitaries. The highlight of the event was seeing a poster of Mike Savage and Legacy Topaz on the wall with the heading “Providing a stable future for Riding for the Disabled”. The Legacy Trust continues to be a proud supporter of Tauranga Riding for the Disabled.

Mini Pony Outreach ProgrammeRuby and Chippie have had a busy start to the year. They have visited four retirement villages in as many months and taken along their canine friends Zion and Sophie. The animals have found new friends and received a lot of love at CHT Bernadette at Mount Maunganui, Melrose Lifestyle Care and Village and Elmswood Rest Home on Waihi Road, and Greenwood Park in Welcome Bay. This community outreach programme is proudly supported by the Legacy Trust.

RDA Volunteer, Lily, introducing Ruby the mini-pony to a resident as part of the Mini Pony Outreach

Programme with Sophie and Zion helping out.

The Ladies Charity LuncheonThis year the Tauranga RDA is the joint recipient of the Ladies Charity Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Friday the 9th of June at the ASB Arena (see advert below). There are two inspiration speakers Makaia Carr and Kelly Coe, along with a three course meal, and a charity auction. Book your tickets now to support this function.If you have an item you would like to donate for auction please contact wendy@communityevents.co.nz

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Ellie Winter – International Student Where are you from? San Francisco, United States of America

How long are you staying at the Tauranga RDA? I arrived in January and will be staying until June.

Why did you choose to come to do an internship at the Tauranga RDA? I was volunteering at a therapeutic riding programme at home and loved it. I wanted to experience and travel to a new country and discovered the internship at the Tauranga RDA. It was a perfect fit for me and now I am here!

What is your background with horses? I rode often growing up. It is expensive own a horse in the big city, so I attended a riding school. We lived in the inner city for 10 years and then moved to the outskirts of the city, although still hard to own a horse I attended a riding school where I learnt western riding and then later I had an instructor who taught me English-style riding.

What do you like about the Tauranga RDA? What is not to like! I love the people, the children and their families. I also love the general atmosphere of being at the RDA it is peaceful, welcoming and warm. Wherever you come here you feel calm and happy.

What are your future plans after leaving the RDA? I graduated from the University of California Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, I thought about what I wanted to do with my career and being here at the RDA cemented what I wanted to do in the future. I will go back home in June and complete the prerequisites to enter into a Doctorate of Physiotherapy. This is a 3 year degree. I will have a gap year after I complete my prerequisites and wait to hear if I get into the Doctorate programme, so perhaps I could come back here!

RDA lessons inspire children’s bookSeven year old Charlie Crawford was introduced to the Tauranga RDA’s equestrian therapy programme in 2015 as a way of helping with empathy training and improving his focus.Charlie has ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) and a sensory processing disorder which means concentrating and controlling his temper can be challenging for him. When Charlie met the RDA horses however, he was calm and focused.

Charlie rode for two terms and last year Charlie’s mum, Loretta, published a book about a young boy who learns to manage his anger with the help of his horse friend.“Witnessing such large, majestic creatures stay serene and steady around small children was amazing,” says Loretta. “They definitely had a calming influence on Charlie so when I wrote the story there was no doubt that the animal hero would be a horse.”The book is called ‘The Horse and the Hurricane King’ and is available now. To purchase a copy you can email: fourseasbooks@gmail.com.Please mention the RDA when you order and Loretta will donate 15% of every sale to the Tauranga RDA.

Charlie and Zena before enjoying a ride together.

Charlie holding The Horse and the Hurricane King, the book he inspired his mother to write.

Ellie enjoying a hack on Santa.

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Rider of the Term – Charlie WayCharlie started riding this term and immediately impressed Sharon with his fantastic attitude. Charlie is 11 years old and has a diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy. He rides Betty and they have developed a very special bond. Charlie has progressed incredibly this term and in just 8 weeks he is able to steer and control Betty and rides independently for almost the entire lesson. Coach Sharon says “Charlie always gives 100% in his lessons even when the increased independence is harder physically for him; he is a pleasure to coach”. Charlie will be progressing onto the Sport and Rec programme next term to further his independent riding and horsemanship abilities. Well done Charlie!

Volunteer’s Ribbon Day Local coach Steve Allan generously gave his time to judge the Volunteer’s Ribbon Day. Seventeen riders competed on both the RDA horses and external horses which were brought in for the day. Each horse was washed and plaited ready for the classes. In total there were eight classes, in which the winners were:

Horse of the Term - ChesterCHESTER – 16 year old, Stationbred/Appaloosa, 15.2 hh gelding. Chester joined our team of therapy horses in November 2016 after being spotted advertised in Te Puna Four Square! He was bred in Hicks Bay, East Coast and spent his life from the age of 3 to 16 years old with the same family. He taught their children to ride as well and many of their friend’s children. It was quite a change for Chester moving from a sedate lifestyle to our busy, bustling environment here at RDA. We were very careful not to rush Chester and gave him a full month to settle before commencing the training programme. Once training began though, there was no stopping Chester and his progression. We are able to use him in all of our programmes as he has a wonderful nature on the ground and he has got used to all of the strange and new therapy equipment. Chester is a wonderful therapy horse and his next challenge will be to be trained to use the hoist, which we will be starting during the next school holidays.

Emmeline Godfrey getting awarded a first place ribbon by judge Steve Allen with Angela O’Donnell giving Santa a well deserved pat.

Best Turned Out: Tash Pearce - Honey

Rider on the Flat: Emmeline Godfery – Santa

Paced and Mannered: Emmeline Godfery – Santa

Rider over Hurdles: Rosie Sheaff – Rocky

Walk, Trot, Canter, Jump: Emmeline Godfrey - Santa

Judges choice: Emmeline Godfery – Santa

Champion Rider: Emmeline Godfery

Reserve Rider: Rosie Sheaff

Own Your Own Pony - JanuaryThe January Own Your Own Pony (OYOP) Programme was fully booked and each day 12 children enjoyed fun and activities with the new coach Rebecca Tasker. Rebecca quickly learnt the ropes of the programme under the auspice of Coach Claudia. The Advanced OYOP programme included a two-night camp and culminated in a Ribbon day for the volunteers. A team of dedicated parents baked, cooked and prepared food for the campers. Everyone advanced their riding skills with the new coach Rebecca Tasker. A highlight for the Advanced OYOP attendees was learning and practicing “clicker training” of which Rebecca is a trainer. Clicker training is an animal training method based on behavioural science, which focuses on positive reinforcement.

Farewell NatalieThe staff and volunteers at the RDA wish farewell and safe travels around the South Island to a wonderful International Student who was a pleasure for the RDA to host, Natalie Bednarek. Natalie was with the RDA for three months from January to March. Natalie will now tour the South Island with some other international students and then looking for work in New Zealand so she can enjoy more of the NZ lifestyle.

Natalie riding her favourite horse, Kimmy.Tauranga Riding for the Disabled44 Ngapeke Road RD 5 Welcome Bay, Tauranga Phone: (07) 544 1899 website: http://www.taurangarda.co.nz/ contact: info@taurangarda.co.nz

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• Arena groomer – to enable us to maintain our arena surface for the benefit and health of our horses and to make a level riding surface for our riders. Approximately $3,000.00

• Single coloured plastic coated poles – long lasting (10 years), easy maintenance, light poles for the activities in the therapy rides activities. $1,400.00

• Sponsor – part sponsor for the horse Bessie to support her up keep. $1,000.00 for a year.

• Saddles – two saddles for our therapy rides. $1,000.00 each.

• Retractable hoses – two retractable hoses to wash out our stable area. $200.00 each.

• Diagrammatic arena letter markers – to help riders identify with both letters and pictures for their activities. $200.00

• 12 grooming buckets - to hold each horses brushes. $120.00

Program & Operational Benefactors & Sponsors Acorn Foundation, Alison Rowe & Family, Alistair & Ray Duncan, Aurecon, A race horse called Beverley Beck, Bay Trust, BDO, BNZ Partners, Bobcat Landscaping, Brian Waldegrave, Bruce Cameron, Charlotte & Warwick Mackay, COGS, Cooper Roberts, Craigs Investment Partners, David Henderson, Debbie Chadwick, Diane Knott, Dorothy Bridge, Eleos Home Trust, Elizabeth Murphy, Farmers Auto Village, Fishers Quay Accounting, G.B Mackay, Gill Friend, Gordon Roberts Charitable Trust, Graeme & Isabel McNaughton, Graeme Smith, Graham & Joan Kehely, Greenwood Park Acquatic Club, Greerton Senior Citizens Club, Greg Turner, Harvey Norman Mt Maunganui, Hillsdene Charitable Trust, Ian Young, Information Technology Systems, Jackie Taylor, Jaqueline Carter, Jane Williams, Jean Stantiall, Joan & Val Carr, John & Stephanie Watson, John Ehrhorn, Joyce Bonner, Judy & David Hawkins, Judy Gray, June Stone, K S & A J Bowden, Kerry Addison, Kiwanis, KPMG, Leona Smith, Lorraine Knott, Lottery Grants Board, Louise Barn, Margaret Tankard, Margaret Townshend, Marlene & Gary Ware, Mary Stutter, Melanie Wakeman, Melvin & Viv Monk, Neil & Kay Fleming, Old Grumpy Gallery, Pakeke Lions, Pat Evans, Paul Garrett, Paul Tidmarsh, Peter & Diane Farmer, Peter Knott, Philippa Hill, Pub Charity, Purple Patch, Ray & Robyn Thomas, Ray Cave, Robert Monk, Roger Lindsay, Ross Jensen, Ross Watson, Sally Martin, Sharp Tudhope, Scotty & Gill Friend, St George’s Centre Point, Steve & Sonya Hawkes, Tauranga Police, TECT, Te Puke Lions, The Lion Foundation, Tim Preston, Valerie Knott, Vicki & Donald Carter, W R & T G Janes, Western Bay Police, Wharepaina Trust, Whity Whitmore, Year 9 at Tauranga Girls’ College, Zariba Holdings.Horse SponsorsAdams Family, Allanah Mills, Barbara Jones, Bay Orchard Sprayers, Cheryl Adams, Dave & Nicky Hurst, Harbour City Lions, Hillsdene Charitable Trust, Jan & Leigh Crockford, Legacy Funerals, Paul Adams, Powerco, Rawenga Trust, Rotary Club of Mt Maunganui.Horse Health Fund Benefactors & SponsorsAgriSea, All Season tree care, Bodmin Charitable Trust, Bruce Neill - Equine Dentist, Kaye & Ross Niccol, Louise & Mark Cairns, Macmillan Family, Marks & Ewen, Merial Ancare, NZCT, PGG Wrightsons, Phil Sheaff, Rob White - Farrier, Seales Winslow, Zariba Holdings.Farm Fund Benefactors & SponsorsBallance Agri Nutrients, Boonies, Carrus Corporation, Cutting Edge Shelter Trimmers, Ewen Cameron, Farmlands Tauranga, Fulton Hogan, Gallaggher Group, George D’Emden, Henry Scott Contracting, Higgins, Neil & Kay Fleming, Ray & Robyn Thomas, Richard’s Repairs, Sheaff Vehicles Limited, The Lakes, Weallean’s Ground Spread.

TERRACE VIEWSPAPAMOA

Community Support Over the last four months the RDA has had amazing support from the community. From all of the RDA Staff, thank you for your kind donations. Here is a list of those whom have generously donated to the RDA of the past four months.

Sharp – donated a photocopier.Louise and Mark Cairns - Donation to purchase a new Quevis therapy saddle.Hay donations by Ross and Kaye Niccol of Te Puke, Brian Marriner of Te Puna and Noel Collings of Welcome Bay who donated 5 acres of standing of hay. Claire Battersby a local photographer who has been giving her time to take photographs of our rides so RDA can showcase what is done in our programmes.Alan Gibson – local Bay of Plenty Herald reporter donating his time to help the RDA compose a video for the Ladies Charity Luncheon.

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