Do you like horses and ponies and working with young people? We are a thriving group who are looking for new volunteers to join us as we are now adding to the number of young people we are supporting. No experience is necessary as training will be given and there are many different areas to be covered. These include grooming and tacking up the ponies, leading the ponies or side walking beside the pony to observe or support the young rider, helping the pupils change into and out of riding boots and hats or helping to teach them about horses, the horse tack and grooming techniques.
We are in action at Tremaines stables in Horsted Keyes on Thursday mornings between 9.30am and 12.30pm. We are very grateful for the support we get from these stables. Our group used to work solely with pupils from Court Meadow School for children with severe learning difficulties. This was based in Cuckfield – hence our name: Court Meadow Group RDA. It is a registered charity which was founded in 1977. Now we work with children from several different schools and also have independent riders coming from local state schools as well. Many of the children have autistic spectrum conditions but of these a large number also have very good social skills and are able to function at a high level.
Our present pupils come from Woodlands Meed School in Burgess Hill, from Step by Step School in Sharpthorne and from Hill Park School in Portslade and we also have six pupils coming independently from local schools and a waiting list. We have forged close connections with the village of Lindfield over the years– some of our founder members and other volunteers live in, or close to, the village. Also, our volunteers have helped to collect funds at the annual bonfire celebrations. We have gratefully received some generous donations from this fund. We have to raise money to fund the riding therapy we offer, as we do not charge our young riders or their schools. Thank you, Lindfield! If you would like to come along and meet us – we are a very friendly and sociable group of volunteers, then please ring 07762 550955 for more information.