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As an unbelievable year comes to a close, I can’t help but think WOW – that was quite a year. Our staff and volunteers’ commitment to keep a high standard of health, care and wellbeing during our different COVID restrictions is to be applauded.
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It was because of this dedication that so many of our riders were able to continue with their sessions. In the middle of all the restrictions and challenges, Christchurch RDA were able to offer our
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facility for the 2021 National Coaches Clinic. This was well supported and our own dedicated coaches all attended.
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We will be saying a fond farewell to a wonderful Sport Rec Coach, Sheree Hubber and some very dedicated and long serving volunteers as well. To all our RDA family members leaving us, we thank you so very much for your efforts, support and dedication to the riders and we wish you well in the future. In addition, our wonderful pony Cricket after many years of service and pleasure was happy to retire back to his original family.
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We welcomed the following new additions to our equine team this year, Vader, Tarty, Jazz and hopefully Ice. This is always exciting but a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes with training for any new horses or ponies. I would like to thank Jenny Nicol for the many hours she dedicates to this.
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We are pleased to welcome Georgina Allan who has stepped up to coach the Sport Rec Riders and has expressed her delight in being able to do so.
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Looking forward, we are giving all the beams in our Arena roof a much needed overhaul this summer, a big project that is being funded by KIWI GAMING FOUNDATION. We would like to give our sincere thanks to them.
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I would like to thank you all for your support and hope that everyone returns next year fully refreshed.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS, keep safe and have an enjoyable summer break.
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A wonderful ‘Feel Good’ story from Bromley School
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Thank you Christchurch RDA for the opportunity to take part in riding this year, it has been amazing.
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The children have been so excited each week to come along and their riding skills have developed so much over the terms. They often talk about riding at school with their friends and they enjoy showing the photos of each of them on the horses. They talk about the horses they have ridden and the skills they learn each week. It is a great concrete experience for the children to learn and take back to school for their writing tasks.
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It’s an integral part of learning for the children outside of the school environment and we have noticed a huge improvement in their posture and core strength development over the year. They always come back to school calm, centered and full of pride after each Tuesday session.
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Once again thank you so much Pippa and everyone at CRDA and a very Merry Christmas!
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Horse Care with Laura
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Thank you to all the lovely volunteers for all their hard work this year!
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It really is a team effort to have our super horses and ponies ready for our wonderful riders.
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Big thanks to Selwyn Forge Farriers for keeping their hooves in tip-top shape, Premier Equine Vets for our horses health and well being, Mr Gerard Treacy for keeping their teeth healthy, Ms Stephanie Bullock for fitting all their saddles and lastly, Sam and Maree Smolenski for helping our horses recover after their sessions.
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This year we have welcomed a few new horses to the team: Tarty, Vader, Jazz, and Ice. What great additions!
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Thank you to all the kind and generous horse owners that let us have their horses for therapy sessions.
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All our horses are ready for their summer break, time to relax!
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I hope everybody has a beautiful holiday season with time to recharge for next year's riding adventures.
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Have you considered sponsoring a horse?
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It goes without saying that we wouldn't exist without our amazing equine friends. We currently have 13 horses in our care. As a non-for-profit organisation that does not receive any government funding we are always looking for ways to engage with people and obtain funds because lets face it - these animals are not cheap to care for.
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Horse Sponsorship is a wonderful way to support us. Sponsorship per horse is $50 a year. You can read more about our horses and sponsor a fury friend here:
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Charles Taylor-Rider's Representative
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Greetings to all riders and their families!
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As the curtain falls upon yet another year tarnished by the trials, tribulations and inconveniences of a strange world, deranged by the reactions of Governments worldwide, to the inclusion of Covid19 into the multi-viral mix of ailments suffered by humanity, ... we must all look back upon what we have achieved, in spite of this wonky world!
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Firstly, you the riders and your caregivers, have been amazing in both your resilience and your enthusiasm to continue riding when faced with pressures that might otherwise have
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lead many to just give it away until times got a bit easier; but you didn't, and that says a lot about both your personal fortitude and the value that you place on the time that you spend with us at the Christchurch RDA. You have our respect! Secondly, I must pay due recognition to the labours of all our wonderful volunteers who give so selflessly of their love and time, to enable the Christchurch RDA to be able to bring you the services that we do; without these people, quite simply, we would be unable to provide these services.
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Lastly, but not least, we must recognize the efforts of our core team, those who run the day to day operation of our office; those who coach; those who take special care of the needs of our lovely team of horses, and those who serve silently in the background on the committee, to oversee and steer the operation of the Christchurch RDA.
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Despite the hurdles and challenges of the last couple of years, it is heart-warming to see that everyone has done their very best to ensure that we continued as much as possible along the path of "business as usual".
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Well Done riders! and Well Done Christchurch RDA! It took everyone's dedication to make this work.
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Whilst we shall be hoping for the appearance of some semblance of normality next year, whatever transpires, we and our horses shall continue to soldier on with the provision of the services that you all love!
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May you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!
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Training Report
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For all of us this has been an unusual year but despite the restrictions and uncertainties there have been some highlights.
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CHCH RDA hosted a very successful National body (NZRDA) coaching clinic with coaches from RDA Groups around the South Island and lower North Island.
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The CRDA Team organised a lecture area (chairs 2m apart) and the food for the 40 participants. Our washed and gleaming horses impressed with their versatility, CRDA's various rider activity sets and horse weigh scales along with the NZRDA speakers provided a stimulating and enriching 4 days for the RDA coaches.
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COVID restrictions were a low, but all our coaches were prepared to keep the riding sessions going and coped very well with the limitations.
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Our newest coach, Becky, worked through her Unit standards to complete the written and practical elements to become a Level 3 RDA Coach.
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Annette, CRDAs volunteer co-ordinator, kept a steady stream of potential volunteers coming to the New Volunteer Inductions – again masks and having to teach, not only H&S for riders, themselves and the horses, but COVID protocols was challenging at times.
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Looking ahead to 2022, CRDA's Therapist and I will be running the Reconnect and revision workshop before the start of sessions, with an emphasis on Goal setting for the riders and horses! Training needs to be an ongoing activity for our coaches, volunteers and horses to be able to provide productive, progressive, safe and fun RDA sessions.
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Thank you CHCH RDA TEAM and best wishes for a relaxing Christmas break
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Jenny Nicol Training co-ordinator
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We are so lucky to have the support of many wonderful organisations that give so generously to CRDA.
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Thank you to everyone and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas
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Here are the lovely ladies from Soroptimists International, so generously donating $500. Thank you so much!
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Harcourts Foundation were very kind in donating $1427.69 for the purchase of our new printer. Thanks so much!
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Volunteer Assistants
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If you enjoy working with Horses and /or Special Needs persons, Christchurch Riding for the Disabled needs Volunteer Assistants!
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We hold sessions 9:00am - 2:30pm each weekday during school terms.
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Our Coaches depend on volunteers to lead horses and
work with riders. Training is given to enable volunteers to feel confident and safe.
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We have had a wonderful response from radio adverts and our many leaflets being displayed on various Community Notice Boards. However, we still need your help - if you can spare one day a week to assist our wonderful Coaches in their efforts to give our Riders the benefit of a therapeutic riding session we would be most grateful.
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If you are over 16 years old and can give a few hours, please contact us with your preferred day.
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Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Annette
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To find out more about Volunteering with CRDA, just click the button...
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In these crazy Covid-19 times when many of our funding avenues have completely collapsed, we need your help more than ever!
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Are you able to help us?
Take a look at what it costs us to keep this enterprise flying...and if you are in a position to help...
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Thank you for your donation
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A special thank you to the following people for their generous donation...
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Alan Pullar
Mary Moodie Family Trust
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K Sitjes
Raewyn Richards Malcolm Gillies
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A Bruhns
Rosemary Pringle Elizabeth Ball Charitable Trust
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S Jarvis, Emma Rookes
Nicky Wright-Z Stations Perfect Packaging Ltd
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Rawhiti School Seniors
P Mayes
Victoria Holland
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Lions Club of Riccarton-Waimari
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O’Rawe Family
Wyma Engineering(NZ)
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Funders
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We would like to thank the following Funders for their support...
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CRDA SHOP - been there?
Have you been to the CRDA Online Shop yet on the CRDA website?
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There are lots of items for sale which will not only make great gifts for friends and family, but which will also help us to keep providing our services.
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Contact Us
Christchurch Riding for the Disabled
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Physical address
Northcote Drive, Inside Canterbury Agricultural Park, Wigram,
Christchurch, 8025
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