• Over the past few months Totara Park RDA got two new horses Toby and Danny Boy. They are now shown on our Horses page.

• Totara Park RDA now has a second domain name www.tprda.org.nz which may be easier to remember. Both Domain names will take you to the site:

  www.tprda.org.nz

  www.totaraparkrda.org.nz

• Article for the Horse and Pony Magazine, written by Gayleen, one of our adult riders. Read here

• Article/Speech by Sarah one of our Thurs Riders.

  Do you think disabled kids can’t do horse riding?
  Well, they can because I do it.
  
  Hi my name is Sarah and I do riding for the disabled. Did you know R D A stands for Riding for the Disabled Association?
  
  They provide therapy using horses.
  There are lots of people of different ages with disabilities that go there. For instance people in wheelchairs, people with a mental disability or people with a visual or a hearing impairment.

  The aim of RDA is to help with social skills and communication, improve balance and coordination, have better posture and muscle control.
  
  I ride Shorty. He is a chestnut thoroughbred and the 2nd biggest horse. He’s good to work with. At horse riding we do lots of activities. Can you believe that we ride the horse backwards, sideways and even on our knees?
  
  We don’t fall off because we have sidewalkers. One person leads the horse and two people walk beside it.
  
  They are volunteers so they don’t get paid. They do it because they LOVE horses and helping people.
  The horses are specially trained for RDA. They are calm and patient with us.
  
  
  RDA is a non profit making organisation. They have to do fundraising and get donations to raise money. At Totara Park, where I ride we are fundraising to build an indoor arena so we can ride in any weather.
  
  There are RDA competitions between different clubs in New Zealand .Riding or as it is called Equestrian has been part of the Para Olympics since 1996.
  
  Horses may not be important to you but they can change disabled people lifes.
  If you wanted to you can visit their website and make a small donation which will make a big difference to a disabled persons life.

June 2008

On a very cold Sunday 29 June 2008 Totara Park RDA went to the Auckland Regional Games at Ti Papa Equestrian Centre.

There was 7 groups that took part (Totara Park, North Shore, Eastern Suburbs, Drury, Ambury Park, Henderson and Greenhithe)

Totara Park was represented by 10 riders who all did very well - coming away with many ribbons and lots of smiles. I'm sure they all had a great time

Also Congratulations to North Shore for winning the Lisk Challenge Shield.This is their second win in a row - so Well Done everyone