The Chairman of Marlborough Riding for the Disabled (RDA) says she is “not surprised” that a recent national impact report highlights the significant benefits of regular participation in its sessions.
For Chairman Eileen Devenish, these results reflect decades of firsthand experience. She co-founded the Marlborough branch 44 years ago with her late friend Heather Lemon, starting with just four children and four ponies. Some of their earliest riders came from Marlborough’s children’s hospital, where Heather had connections.
“I remember a traumatised young boy called Colin who was non-verbal,” Eileen recalls. “He understood everything but would never respond. One day, someone who didn’t know Colin asked him the name of his pony—and he answered. I remember thinking ‘oh my word’, what an incredible breakthrough.”
Key findings of the report include 80% of parent/carers believe the positive changes in participants would not have happened without RDA; 95% of participants feel calm and focused during sessions; 90% feel more confident in themselves; and 88% have better posture, balance and co-ordination.
Marlborough RDA has been based at Manton Grange since 2003, thanks to the generosity of Ken Carter, who sadly recently passed away, and his wife Gilly. When the Carters moved, current owners, Frederick and Emma Goltz generously continued with the arrangement. Marlborough RDA is extremely grateful to both couples as the facilities are perfect for their work.
Eileen and her team of 40 volunteers support 240 local, primarily children, from Burbage, Bedwyn, Pewsey, Springfields, Preshute and St Mary’s schools.
The impact report comes at a time when the Government is consulting on major reforms to the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system, with proposals that could reshape education, health and care plans (EHCPs). RDA UK has welcomed the consultation and is calling for community-based specialist providers such as RDA to be formally recognised as key partners in delivering support.
RDA UK Chief Executive Michael Bishop is lobbying for Government to explicitly recognise specialist community-based provision as a core partner in delivery, ensuring it is included in the consultation and in future policy decisions.
Eileen is very supportive and on the back of the impact report has contacted SENCOs at schools to provide more detailed information on how each individual pupil can be helped.
“We are not here to teach people to ride. We help with confidence, improving focus or it could be a type of physiotherapy session. We have two children with cerebral palsy who come at the suggestion of their physiotherapist. It’s a way of improving their balance and strength by having a lovely time on a pony,” explains Eileen.
“The majority of RDA riders do not know or cannot hold their own weight. Our lessons help with posture and strengthening bodies in an enjoyable way. But if we could work even closer with schools to target individual needs, that would be wonderful,” she adds.
I am speaking with Eileen with one of her longstanding volunteers Anne Bendall (Secretary), and they explain the huge amount of organisation and administration that goes into running the group. Unlike all other RDAs, Marlborough does not own its ponies and all eight of them are transported to and from Manton for lessons; volunteers are required to lead the ponies, and each pony will have one or two ‘sidewalkers’ walking alongside the rider. Coaches undergo specialist training and finding the right horse and pony is not easy, and their welfare also has to be regularly monitored. Marlborough RDA supports all its cost through fundraising.
“We recently enjoyed a training day to understand neurodiversity which was very interesting,” says Eileen
Despite her long involvement, she admits: “I love doing it—but I do sometimes worry about being there too long!” Eileen was awarded an MBE in 2008 for her many charitable activities.
Eileen is supported by a strong team, including her vice chairman Trish Street, and they have worked together for 40 years.
All of the above work goes alongside the Kennet Valley Carriage Driving Group (KVCDG) based in Lockeridge and is also affiliated with the RDA that provides carriage driving opportunities for adults (16+) with disabilities.
Alongside its riding activities, the group also works alongside the Kennet Valley Carriage Driving Group, based in Lockeridge, which provides carriage driving opportunities for adults aged 16 and over with disabilities.
Jan Perrins
MantonFest posters now allowed – Cllr Jane Davies has (hopefully) resolved this ‘rule’
