FROM THE CHAIR

It is the end of a year and the start of a brand-new year coming up, we have exciting plans for 2024 to celebrating 50 years of Gordon Group RDA. From very small beginnings we now have over 60 riders per week, plus adults and children taking part in non-ridden activities, which include our Stable Management/Pony Care courses and Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) sessions, which is a fantastic achievement.

It has been a very busy year beginning with painting of the yard, stables, fencing, poles and indoor school by volunteer Valerie Wallace, Rob and her friends who have all worked so hard- a huge thank-you to them. In May, the new toilet block and Sensory Room were installed, kindly donated by Omexon. In June, we were Runners Up in the SEIB RDA Centre of the Year, a fantastic achievement and we also launched ‘Tea with the Ponies’ events, which have proved to be very popular. The Sensory Trail opened in late Summer with a very positive response from all the riders and visitors. Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side for our annual Family Fun Gala Day in September, so it was all moved indoors but it still turned out to be a great day. In November, we were all very proud when two of our riders, Erin Lindsay and Joan Gall successfully took part in the Virtual Dressage Championships run by RDAUK. This year we were delighted to welcome several new volunteers, which is fantastic and the arrival of a lovely new pony called Patch who came to join our herd.

Our plans for 2024 are to continue to extend our ridden sessions and to develop our non-ridden activities. The Sensory Trail is still a work in progress with new areas, planting and signage to be added. We will also be holding a fundraising Dinner Dance with live music in May. We plan to set up  a Countryside Challenge Course, a series of obstacles and activities to tackle on horseback ,in the outdoor school, which will add to our riders experience. So, it’s going to be even busier in 2024.

All that remains to say is a huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped, volunteered, supported and donated to Gordon Group RDA, we are most grateful and so are all our amazing participants and visitors who have been given the opportunity to benefit from our wonderful ponies.

Fiona JD Pearson