Abbey East, 13, Cambridge Middle School with her father Brendon James, RDA’s Laura Pilkington and Rangi, a 12-year-old on loan from Te Aroha RDA. Cambridge Riding for the Disabled Open Day celebrating 40 years. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
More than 400 people got a behind the scenes look at the successful Cambridge Riding for the Disabled operation at their open day on Sunday.
And it was the horses themselves that stole the limelight gleefully accepting treats like carrots and clumps of grass from delighted spectators.
Spokesperson Sam Ogden said the highlights of the day celebrating the organisation’s 40th anniversary were the way the business community got behind them, the contribution from volunteers and backed up by mentoring from the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce.
Children found the Sparkly Strides carousel choreographed group dressage display in the arena ring very entertaining.
Every single person walked away with something from the Tombola – a game in which people pick tickets out of a revolving drum.
“Seeing our riders and their whānau was the icing on the cake. They are why we do what we do, and it was lovely to see them,” said Ogden.
The Cambridge RDA was founded in 1983 and runs programmes designed to develop and increase physical abilities, communication and social skills, confidence and self-esteem.
David Milne, ex RDA, with Margaret Ellis feeding carrots to Ziggy, a seven-year-old Kaimanawa horse, at the Cambridge Riding for the Disabled Open Day celebrating 40 years. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
