After a two-year closure due to COVID-19, Riding for the Disabled at Somersby will be up and running again at the end of February 2022.
Coach Jenny Cameron, who is a past president of the organisation and a regional representative for the Coast, said the centre would hold a volunteer and training day from 10am on February 26.
“We have been working our COVID plans and all our classes, which begin on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from February 28 are full,” she said.
“But after COVID lockdowns it is almost like starting a new centre.”
With 11 horses on site, including newest arrival Ally, bought on a six-month trial from a local vet, Cameron said the centre was ready to go but needed to bolster its volunteer workforce.
“Ally is a beautiful size for us and should fit in nicely,” she said.
“But we really need more volunteers.
“We have a core group of around 30 and 70 or so on the books, but it is unsure how many of those will return to us.
“So we are having this open day to show interested people around the place and give them information on what roles there are for volunteers.
“You don’t need to know a lot about horses – there are lots of other things to do such as gardening.
“We buddy people up so they are never alone – some people are very good with the children, some just want to deal with the horses.
“There is something to do for everyone who wants to help and you don’t need to be able to ride.
“The volunteers do not ride the horses.”
Cameron said there had already been a number of inquiries and she was hoping for a large roll-up on February 26.
A volunteer with the organisation for more than 25 years, Cameron was joint winner of the Volunteer of the Year category in Central Coast Council’s Australia Day awards this year.
“I felt very humbled because volunteering is a two-way street,” she said.
“You get a lot out of it; there is a lot of satisfaction involved.
“The award was lovely recognition for RDA and was graciously received.”
Cameron also won the top state award for Riding for the Disabled – the Pearl Bachelor award – last year.
With no lessons running, the organisation still had to care for the horses during the shut-down.
“There has been rain, which has been great, so we’ve had feed for the horses,” Cameron said.
“But it’s really been left to half a dozen people to keep things going.
“We’ve had to care for the horses one person at a time because of COVID restrictions.
“We’re really happy to be starting up again.”
Central Coast Riding for the Disabled was one of the first centres to open, 43 years ago.
“We originally started at Tall Timbers and in 2002 we moved to our current premises at Somersby,” Cameron said.
The charitable organisation caters mostly for school groups.
“Riding is such good therapy for disabled children,” Cameron said.
“It’s all about the discipline and the fact they are doing something their friends don’t do.”
The Somersby facility will also hold its AGM on site at 6:30pm on March 22.
For more information call 0412 393 452.
Terry Collins