Equestrian
Plunging in
for RDA
Among the teams
plunging into the pool
for the ever-popular
Swimathon at Sandown’s
Heights Leisure Centre
on April 28th were four
swimmers raising funds
for the local Riding for
the Disabled charity.
The team was led by Luke
Wilson, a veterinary nurse at the
Pet Doctors animal hospital in
Newport, and his fellow swimmers
were Mandy Meadows, Bella
Green and Joseph Green, who
completed 53 lengths in 55
minutes, swimming in relay.
Half of the team’s sponsorship
totals will be donated to
the RDA, with the other half
going to The Lions charity.
The RDA provides an invaluable
service on Monday mornings at
Lake Farm in Rookley, when a
selection of riding school ponies
and horses are tacked up and
made ready for their special riders.
Aged from primary school age
right through to adults, these
riders all have some form of
disability or special learning needs,
and their abilities range from
being able to do rising trot and
control the ponies independently,
to others who are assisted on
both sides by volunteers so
they can sit astride the pony
and just enjoy the freedom of
movement that riding gives.
They have great fun riding
and every week the instructors,
along with a dedicated team
of volunteers at Lake Farm,
make sure they have a varied
programme and are safe
to enjoy every moment.
Mandy Meadows said: “I have
been lucky enough to witness the
riders’ joy and excitement from
the experience of horse riding,
which is why I did the swimathon
to help raise vital funds. These
funds keep this charity well
stocked with the safety equipment
such as riding hats, aids to help
the riders mount the horses and
help keep the valuable ponies
well looked after so they can
carry on doing their vital work”.
Anyone still wishing to donate
can do so by posting donations
c/o Luke Wilson, Lake Farm
Equitation Centre, Chequers
Inn Road, Rookley, PO38 3NZ.
www.visitilife.com
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