Logo: Picture of a red rose and surrounding text.
V is for the Very special people that you are.
O is for the Overwhelming support & compassion you offer others.
L is for the Little things you do that make such a difference in someone's life.
U is for the Unspoken words that sometimes mean just as much.
N is for the Need you fill when others aren't able.
T is for the Time you give of yourselves on top of your own busy schedules.
E is for the Emotional support you continually give.
E is also for the Endless energy you all seem to possess.
R is for the Responsibility you have taken on & never once complained.
S is for the Smiles you bring to riders & families by just being you.
Thornton Rose Ride-Ability Group is run and managed entirely by volunteers.
When you volunteer you help to change lives .
Riders speak, smile and even laugh out loud.
Muscles are strengthened and range of motion increased.
Both fine and gross motor skills are developed.
Words are spoken and eye contact is made.
Courage and confidence increase.
Friendships flourish and warm feelings abound.
We are always looking for volunteers to help us here, as they play a very important part in making our group successful and enjoyable.
We are looking for reliable people with a big smile who are able to offer us as much of their spare time as they can afford. Experience with horses is great but not essential, there is always the opportunity to learn. There are also many things to do that don't involve the ponies such as helping with fund raising events and general maintenance.
In return we offer you the chance to become part of a well established charity, working within our dedicated team to make riding a fun and beneficial experience.
Volunteering at Thornton Rose is fun, challenging and great exercise in the open air. You could join in the fun and take up a new challenge? We operate a system of cascade training where by new helpers are always teamed up more experienced volunteers. So no previous horse experience is necessary; only common sense, reasonable fitness and a sense of humour is useful! If you are interested we would love to hear from you either by email or phone Bill and Ann Johnston.
The future of Thornton Rose rests with the people who support us with their time, expertise, commitment, money and enthusiasm. Thus ensuring we can continue to give all our present and future riders the wonderful and beneficial experience of learning to ride.
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Volunteer Application Form - Click here
click on this link to contact Ann & Bill Johnston by email
When I retired from my job as a nursery nurse I wondered how I would spend my days. I tried embroidery that didn't last long! I started an art class which was and still is enjoyable, but I like the outdoors, though not terribly fond of gardening, although it has to be done.
Then one day I overheard someone I knew mention that they volunteered with the RDA. At this point my ears pricked up as I had always liked horses so I asked her if I could go with her. She took me to Thornton Rose RDA the following week and I have been attending there for 4 years now.
Horses are wonderful therapy for anyone who is depressed as it gets you involved right from the start. It is also rewarding to see the smiles on the faces of the riders and seeing their achievements.
I get some good laughs from the other volunteers and I think we make a great team I have made lots of new friends through volunteering.
As an older person I would say to anyone don't let age stop you, if you are fit and love horses this is the best voluntary work for you.
I ride and exercise one of the RDA ponies called Ludo and I attended my first ever dressage competition and was placed 5th you can see me and the boy in the photo.
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This past year while I was a visiting undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh I saw that RDA was looking for help. I had free time and really wanted to be doing something more with my time than I had been. I knew I liked horses, although I had not had much experience being around them or working with them, and I have had an interest in animal-assisted therapies for a long time. After Christmas I decided to volunteer on Saturdays, so for about 6 months I got to work with RDA. I enjoyed all of the time I spent volunteering.
I got to learn about horses through experience around them and handling them, and I got to interact with the kids that attended Saturday session. I loved getting to know the kids (while I was there the Saturday sessions were mainly younger kids) and I had the chance to see one of the youngest riders in RDA begin his horsemanship process. I was amazed at how fast that little boy not only became comfortable on a horse but also how much he changed in just a few sessions. He went from nervous around horses, to comfortable riding a horse as long as he had a toy or book, to riding without any distractions (well, except for me, I loved encouraging him to talk and tell me about the things he liked).
My first day I was paired up with a more experience volunteer and got to jump right in and learn how to groom a horse by grooming one! My partner gave me a brush and said "You just brush the horse like this..." She brushed one side, I brushed the other and it was great. I loved getting to learn by practicing, and the more experienced volunteers were always ready to help me if I forgot anything, such as how to tie up a horse (which happened a lot).
One of the great things about RDA is that, although similar, none of the sessions are ever the same. You may spend one session side-walking for a more experienced rider and then the next you may be leading the horse! Sometimes the kids and horses are really engaged, other times you really have to try to get them to work with you. I loved the challenge that came with all the different elements -riders, volunteers, horses, weather- and days and I loved being actively involved in making someone's day better.
I miss RDA a lot now that I'm back home and I am trying to find a riding therapy group near me so I can continue volunteering because it meant so much to me. I learned so much about horses and riding therapy during my time with RDA, and I learned a lot more about myself and my abilities to step up to challenges in working with RDA than I have doing any other volunteer work.
Jasmine Stork
Comparative History of Ideas & Public Health double degree and Medical History and Ethics minor- University of Washington
Former visiting undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh
The past year I’ve been studying at Napier University Edinburgh for my master degree. After being in Edinburgh for a few months I found that my weekends were pretty empty.
Just at the right moment I saw an ‘ad’ in the Sports and Societies newsletter that the RDA was looking for some help.
Just as Jasmine I volunteered on Saturdays when the younger kids are riding. I volunteered for about 6 months until I finished my course in September and went back home to the Netherlands.
Volunteering at RDA was a very rewarding experience. It gave me the possibility to do something for others. If you then see these kids improving their riding skills, enjoying the rides and you start bonding with them it makes it all worth even more.
For me the RDA was also great way to get out on Saturdays and meet different people. Student life is great but sometimes you just want to get out and go somewhere different. I really enjoyed being in the nature, the walks, the interaction with the kids, parents and other volunteers and last but not least the horses.
Now being at home I do miss being at RDA at Saturday. In the near future I hope to be able to start riding lessons and learn to ride a horse myself. Depending on where I get a job I certainly hope to be able to volunteer again, be it RDA be it another cause.
Good luck and all the best!
Yvette
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