2019 Volunteer's Summer Events

Bolney Wine Tour
Chairman's Tea Party

50th Anniversary Celebration at Chestnuts Riding School

On the 20th June 2019 the Mid Sussex RDA spent a wonderful Fun Day celebrating their 50th Anniversary  at Chestnuts Riding School in Pyecombe,  just outside Brighton.  The Mayor of Brighton and Hove, MEP, Councillor Alex Phillips attended.
Children from  3 local special schools,  Hill Park, Woodlands Meed and Downs View showed their riding skills by trotting, performing exercises and playing musical games.  The Mayor presented each one with a certificate and 2 rosettes. ​​
An original Founder member, and still a serving member, Judy Case, was given a special award for her 50 years Service while Sally Yonge, Rosie Naillard and Martin Widdowson were presented with individual Endeavour Awards by the Mayor for their work for the Mid Sussex.   Finally the proprietors  of Chestnuts Riding School were thanked by the Chairman Ruby Grimshaw for all the support  they had given over the last 8 years to the Mid Sussex Group.  They always supplied the group with gentle suitable horses and ponies, and gave their unstinted support.
After a splendid lunch The Mayor cut the  special 50th Birthday cake before she had to leave.  She said that it had been a wonderful experience and she had been impressed by the warmth and enthusiasm shown by all the riders and volunteers. 


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In the afternoon, 3 adult disabled riders from the Tuesday riding session, plus a carer who had not ridden before, took part in a general class. All were given certificates and rosettes.
It was a very happy day for everybody.  A splendid way to celebrate 50 years of continual service by the Mid Sussex RDA.

Sue's Plant Sale

£ 883    Goodness that's alot of plants.

​Thanks to all who made it along to Sue's plant sale in April.

April 2019, Waitrose, Burgess Hill

£ 397

Thank you Burgess Hill Waitrose Customers

Remembrance Plaque

Helen is one of our Tuesday riders who made and presented the volunteers with this wonderful plaque given in honour of Ted.
12 March 2019

2018 Look Back & 2019 Look Forward


The last year just seems to have whizzed by, doesn`t it?  The Mid Sussex RDA Group has had a very busy and successful year, although there have been one or two sad points along the way.

We were all delighted when at last the mid-sussex-rda.orgwebsite was launched in January 2018.  This has meant that prospective riders and volunteers have been able to contact us more easily.  Also information on term dates, future plans and activities can now be given out early and in detail.  Some riders have written a short description for the website on their experience of riding with us and how it has affected their lives.  It is planned for helpers to do the same, to tell us what volunteering has meant for them.  We also have had some lovely photographs sent us which we include in the gallery hopefully, this will continue to be a feature of our website.

We all breathed a sigh of relief when our hydraulic platform was returned and put back in action last April, complete with the all important LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) certification.  Its absence made us realise how necessary this lift is in order for us to get some of our disabled adult riders mounted.

Several presentations were given during the year, mainly to branches of the Trefoil Society whose charity was RDA for 2018, but also to church and other community groups.  Funds are sometimes  produced from these presentations but mainly their purpose is to spread the knowledge of what RDA means and the work it does.
            
Sadly, in April Paul, a very brave and plucky rider, much admired and loved by us all, died very suddenly.  In consultation with his parents his photograph on Basil, whom he adored, has been kept on our website.

Our two annual fund-raising events; the Plant Sale and the Pub Quiz, were both extremely successful not only producing funds but were also very enjoyable.  
Also enjoyed was our visit to Merrist Wood Carriage Driving Group in June and a ride on the Bluebell Railway in August.  In addition to our own in-house Training Day some of us attended the Training Day in Lingfield in May and one in Chelwood Gate in October.  We now have three Coaches in Training to keep us all on our toes regarding rules and regulations in the New Coaching Pathway! We finished the year with a most enjoyable lunch at the Plough in Pyecombe.

Unfortunately, the year ended on a very low note when our lovely and much loved horse Ted became ill.  Despite every attempt to save him it became obvious that it was time to say goodbye to our wonderful friend.  Ted has been a truly loyal and steadfast member of the group, never put a hoof wrong, and will be missed by many riders and volunteers.

​Thanks go to all our volunteers for the magnificent help you have and enthusiasm that you have shown to Mid Sussex over the last year.  We can`t do it without you!  We look forward to celebrating our 50th Anniversary with everyone on our Fun Day in June.
R. Grimshaw, March 2019

Goodbye Super Ted

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that we have had to say goodbye to our wonderful horse Ted.  He had been very ill since the end of last year, and it became clear the kindest thing we could do for him was to let him go.

Ted has given a lot of joy to many riders over the years, including the many adults and children who rode him at the Mid Sussex RDA.  He was always a sweet-natured gentle horse and never put a hoof wrong.  He will be so missed.  

Rest in peace dear Ted.
 January 2019

Happy Birthday Tina!

Tina receives a birthday rosette.

Happy Birthday Meghan!

Celebrations at RDA when Meghan receives a birthday rosette.

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Award

​Sam started with us in 2013 aged 22 as a complete non rider after recovering from cancer.  By 2016 he had improved so much he was able to hack out with another RDA rider at a riding school on Ashdown Forest.  

He won the Regional Participant of the Year Award, the Titan Award, in 2017 for his courage & determination.     

Sponsored Bike Ride by Kath Tarrant

​"Congratulations to Kath Tarrant of East View Riding Stables who completed a Sponsored Bike Ride (215 Miles) on our behalf and raised the princely sum of £759.  We now have our renovated Hydraulic Lift back and this money will very gratefully go towards the cost of the repair.  We now have the necessary LOLER Certificate meaning the lift passes all the rules for equipment of that nature.

Yippee!"

Spring 2018

Our riders enjoying the outside school in Spring.
Reinstatement of our hydraulic lift.