Devoted volunteers helping children with horse therapy

The Riding for the Disabled organisation has centres in Bathurst, Dubbo, Forbes, Mudgee, Cowra, Young and Orange.

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Orange Centre president Pat Frecklington has been volunteering for 15 years and has been in the presidential role for about eight years.

The Orange RDA centre runs a full day class every Wednesday with students from Anson Street School and Glenroi School.

“The beauty of it, as volunteers, it helps us as well as the children,” Mr Frecklington said.

The Orange RDA centre has 15 horses and more than 40 volunteers who help 45 children.

“People tell us, as older people we’re supposed to keep active.. so hopefully it’s making our health better as well as helping others,” Mr Frecklington said.

Mr Frecklington said as a volunteer it’s good to help someone else and make their life a little bit better.

“With the kids with special needs it’s great to see the improvement in them over the years…,” he said.

“And the kids get a bond with the horses…”

Children are taken through a variety of activities with the horses, including dressage, riding classes and hippotherapy.

“We’re trying to help improve their educational ability…,” Mr Frecklington said.

It takes about 20 volunteers to run the RDA Orange class each week and being a not-for-profit organisation run on volunteers, the costs can add up.

But thankfully their hard work was recently acknowledged with a $10,000 centenary grant from the Commonwealth Bank Molong branch and Mr Frecklington said the Orange centre is supported throughout the community.

“We’re very lucky (with our support).. IGA are very good to us...we do a raffle at the Orange Field Days, they’re all good to us,” he said.

Mr Frecklington encouraged anyone who is thinking of setting up a RDA centre in their town to come and visit them in Orange for any advice they may need.  For information on centres visit rdansw.org.au