Various news items!

It's V week!

Very Well Done!

A massive thank you to each of you for your incredible help on the Open Day! Your energy, friendliness, and willingness to jump in wherever needed made such a positive impact—not only on the team but on every visitor who walked through our doors.

From setting up to guiding guests, answering questions, and just bringing great vibes all around—you were amazing! We truly couldn’t have done it without you.

We're also thrilled to share that, thanks to your support, we raised an amazing £3,239.66! 🎉Thank you as well to everyone who came and made the day so enjoyable. And a big shout out to Mojca, whose incredibly hard work during the build up made the day so successful.

The Open Day was also the first time out for our horse box café, and it was very successful! Thank you to Suez for such an amazing job prettying it up!

Very Many Happy Returns

This week Louie celebrated his 21st Birthday! The Shetland Team made a real fuss of him and as you can see he loved his sash and rosette!

V E Day!

This week saw the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day! Our Shetlands celebrated in style!

Vast Improvement!

Thank you to everyone who has supported our Vet Fees appeal for Bertie. He is now home from the hospital and doing really well. I have it on good authority that his poos look really good, which is not something you often shout about...

We still have a long way to go to cover the vet fees, which have come in at almost £9,000. We have a Just Giving Page to support him, and if you want to do something special, like a sponsored swim, or shave you head, or a cake sale, or anything really, you can set up a fundraiser and connect it to our appeal. Let us know you're doing it and we will share it and get you lots of support!

Variations in weather!

Summer clothing

Now that the weather is beginning to warm up, it remains important that you continue to wear appropriate clothing when you attend your sessions – long trousers, tops that cover your shoulders and upper body and robust shoes.

We have already seen our first ticks of the season!

Verse about your experiences!

We have received the following request from RDA National:

We’re reaching out to ask for your support in gathering powerful, real-life stories that showcase the life-changing impact of RDA—particularly in relation to some of today’s most pressing societal issues. 

As we work to increase public awareness and secure coverage in mainstream media, we are specifically looking for stories that break the mould in terms of how people perceive equestrianism, and show how RDA is making a difference in the following areas: 

·                     The growing mental health crisis—especially among young people 

·                     Barriers to education or school engagement 

·                     Difficult family circumstances, or social background 

·                     Social isolation, loneliness, or exclusion 

·                     The development of confidence, independence, and life skills in participants, which not only support personal growth but can also open pathways into further education, volunteering, or employment. 

Whether it's a participant overcoming anxiety through riding, a young person re-engaging with school thanks to their RDA experience, a volunteer finding purpose and belonging, or a family finding new hope and connection through your group, these are the kinds of stories that can truly resonate with the public and the press. 

Your stories can help us raise RDA’s profile, build support, and demonstrate just how relevant and essential our work is in today’s world. 

If you have a story you'd like to share, please email Kim and she can let you know how to do it.

Varied Role?

We are so excited to be able to offer a brand new role and an opportunity to join our friendly team as a Forest School Development Officer.

You can find more details and how to apply on our Job Vacancies Page.