NZRDA Annual Awards 2010

Presented May 2011

Rider of the Year - Devon Tretheway

Devon shows dedication and diligence in her training, not only in RDA but also in Special Olympics.  She has competed for her school in the North Island secondary school Dressage Championships and was awarded sportswoman of the year in 2010 at her college.

Devon has two horses of her own, a thoroughbred for Dressage and a Quarter horse for recreational use.  Both she attends to daily before and after school.  For work experience she worked with an Equine Therapist with treatments of assorted horses and is now keen for a career in the Equine field.

Devon attended the two national games for Special Olympics and has been chosen to represent New Zealand in the Special Olympics World Games in Athens.

Devon is a pleasure to train as she listens attentively and does her best at all time and has been privileged to have been offered a lesson from Kallista Fields before going to Athens.

Horse of the Year - Taihoa Kingsmoor (Bonno)

Bonno was originally purchased through an advertisement in Horse and Pony,

The Group worked with Bono for 12 months before he was admitted to the Programme.  He is described as having wonderful movement without a mean bone in his body.  He enjoys being around people, enjoys attention and loves rising to an occasion.

He is used for Therapy as a riding pony and is used to teach student long lining and lunging – the Group describes him as their most valuable horse who keeps on improving and amazing us all with his wonderful personality.

Coach of the Year - Marilyn Surgenor

Marilyn first attended a committee meeting of the Group in 1981 offering to organise the horses for the first RDA rally after the Group had been in recess.  When trying to list the many roles Marilyn has played in RDA in the past 29 years it becomes blurred as she has often held more than one role at the same time.

Marilyn has been Deputy Riding Instructor and Chief Riding instructor as well as horse person, also vice president and later President of the Group for five years.

In 2006 Marilyn joined the NZRDA Training team, that same year she was also award life membership of the Hawera Group RDA along with her extensive duties as a National Coach she has taught children with special needs and has also been key in the liaison roles between schools and the RDA.

Her depth of knowledge of horses, people living with special needs and her strong coaching abilities makes her the perfect candidate to be recognised as the NZRDA Coach of the Year

Volunteer of the Year - David Bowler

David has a long association with the Manawatu Group RDA beginning in the 1970s when he loaned a pony for the first rallies and stayed to help.

In 1990 he became President of the Group holding office for two terms.  During that time he led the steering committee that arranged a loan for the purchase of their permanent venue and was one of the five guarantors for the bank loan.

Once the land was purchased he organised and as team leader helped in the building of fences, troughs and the large outdoor arena that was needed.  Electricity and water were installed and the temporary toilets were delivered and secured on piles, all this was done voluntarily while busy with his own full time job and the responsibility of a family.

In 2000, David retired from paid employment and dedicated himself to full time involvement with RDA, twice daily, seven days a week, he can be found caring for horse and doing all the general maintenance needed to keep the paddocks and buildings in good order.

On the three days a week that there are rallies David either leads the horses or sidewalks and on non-riding days brings in horses requiring attention for drenching, hoof trimming or vet care.

The Manawatu Group regularly hosts individuals from tertiary institutions and David supervises and teaches these students.  When Groups such as the Brownies and Guides, Cancer Kids or pre-schools visit it is David who shows them around.  On top of all of this David takes his turn with the fund raising selling raffle tickets or manning BBQs and leading fundraising committees.

David is a worthy recipient of the Tom Atchison Volunteer of the Year Award for 2010

NZRDA Chair’s Award for outstanding commitment -  Jo Mackley

Jo has a real passion for therapy riding.  This started more than 12 years ago with the Hutt Valley Group RDA, first as a volunteer, then as a coach.  Jo coaches around 30 riders per week over two days.  Everyone who knows Jo would describe her as passionate, dedicated and a committed team player always keen to go the extra mile to ensure that her riders gets the most from RDA.  Jo leads a large team of volunteers who are very loyal to her and committed to ensuring that she has the support she needs both inside and out of the RDA. 

2010 was a very tough year for Jo but her positive attitude together with RDA gave her purpose when it was difficult for her to imagine one.  On what must have been the one of the darkest days in her life, Jo managed to speak to me personally and to encourage me to speak to her aunt as she was involved with Special Olympics and we needed more of that in RDA for our riders. Thank you Jo.

Wairarapa Group RDA

Opening of the Linley McWilliam Sensory Walk

Linley rode with us from 1984 after a brain operation affected her balance. She rode through to 2002 and later died. She left our group a bequest of $10,000 which we decided to build a sensory walk. The walk includes a bush trail with bridge, beach scene with water feature, ducks, seagulls etc, a scrunchy gravel walk, archway, the affectionately named "Madonna Hills" and a fantastic maze. The walk encompasses all the senses of sight, sound, touch and with herbs being added, smell. Past volunteers, NZRDA officials, sponsors and Mr Bill McWilliam who officially opened the walk in the memory of his wife came on a perfect Wairarapa day. A lasting memory to a gracious lady

North Canterbury Group RDA Ready to Ride

After only eighteen months since their first inaugural committee meeting, the North Canterbury Committee is making preparations to commence riding.

The efforts of the thirteen enthusiastic committee members, combined with the support from the community, has enabled this to happen says Chairperson Des Moore.

At this stage in the process, the Branch has two RDA qualified coaches, with five assistant coaches in training. Twenty enthusiastic and capable volunteers have also completed training, and are now waiting to be involved with riders in organised sessions.  With twenty two potential riders on the list, (nine of whom have completed assessment) two local physiotherapists who have offered their service to the branch, along with expertise in all areas within the present committee, the future for North Canterbury looks bright.   

The Branch wishes to acknowledge the support and help, with training and advice given by the Canterbury Branch President and staff, as well as the RDA National Office, which has enabled us to get to this stage in such a short time frame.

Support has come from a variety of community resources, and the branch is truly indebted to Community College North Canterbury for the use of their Equine facilities, the Bakker family for the use of their neighbouring land to accommodate our horses, local fencing contractor Keith Woolley for completing the task of providing materials, and erecting fences, and to all those others who have helped in any way to prepare for our commencement of riding.

We look forward to a positive future as we provide suitable therapeutic horse riding and horse care for those within our area who have a disability

Major step forward for Tauranga RDA indoor arena

Major earthworks begin this week as the first stage of the construction of the long-awaited Tauranga Riding for the Disabled indoor arena in Welcome Bay begins.

Earlier this month the project was given the green light thanks to a $300,000 community funding boost from Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust, adding to the $75,000 seed capital raised at the 2009 Tauranga Police CIB Charity Auction.

The $750,000 arena is being built on Department of Conservation-owned land by Tauranga company Belvedere Construction is on track to be completed by Christmas. Belvedere Construction owner Trevor Wilkinson's son has autism and is a regular participant at Riding for the Disabled. On Saturday RDA trustees, major sponsors and other supporters, volunteers and local iwi gathered on site to celebrate the next major milestone in the 35-year history of Tauranga Riding for the Disabled as Mayor Stuart Crosby took the controls of small digger to turn the first sod.

TDA Charitable Trust chairman Frank Vosper said it did not matter whether donations to the project were $5, $5000 or $300,000 as every donation counted. He said the fantastic community response from individuals, community groups and businesses had allowed trustees to move forward to complete the anxiously awaited arena, which will benefit so many people.

"It's been amazing how generous people have been and no one really took much persuading, once they were told what the project was all about."

Tauranga RDA chief executive Kat Macmillan said seeing the first sod turned and knowing earthworks are only days away from starting was like seeing "a dream come true".

"This is a very special day for us and everyone concerned is so excited."

The first stage of the project was to erect a steel structure, which would take about six weeks. By the end of August the riding for disabled programme would re-commence in an outside field. Mrs Macmillan said the rest of the money needed was expected to come through over the next five months by pledges and other fundraising efforts.

Story Sandra Conchie  BOP Times