Does it have to be riding for the disabled?

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Guest
First off hello and thanks for reading this. Also thanks in advance for any advice offered.

I started riding at a very young age and evented and point-to-pointed up until I was 20 when I had a car accident that left me with incomplete paraplegia. This means my spine was broken but the spinal cord was not damaged enough to completely paralyse me. I now use crutches to walk and a wheelchair for longer distances.

About two years after the accident I found a great stable with a brilliant instructor who took me under her wing and coached me to intermediate dressage level. It wasn't easy and it took a very long time for my legs to build enough muscle to be useful and for the very high tone (spasticity) in my left leg (as a result of the spinal injury) to decrease. Riding proved to be a great therapy for me physically as well as emotionally and mentally.

I have since moved from the area where I was riding and now live in Wiltshire and I'm unable to find a stable that's willing to take me. Insurance appears to be a limiting factor... I have approached one stable that does RDA, but they are unable to accommodate me as I work full time and can only ride evenings and/or weekends. They also seem quite keen to not believe I have competed since my accident, which has put me off contacting other RDA riding schools.

Does anyone know of a, dare I say, more flexible RDA riding school in the North Wiltshire area? Or of a stable that may have a more flexible insurance policy?

Once again, I'm very grateful for any advice offered.
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How far are you away from Talland? (http://www.talland.net/) They cater for RDA and also teach to advanced level dressage. They also provide lessons at the weekends and have some brilliant horses.

I'm sure that once you have completed an assessment lesson, you would be able to train at the level you are at.

Good luck.
 
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I have approached one stable that does RDA, but they are unable to accommodate me as I work full time and can only ride evenings and/or weekends. They also seem quite keen to not believe I have competed since my accident, which has put me off contacting other RDA riding schools.


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That sounds really harsh!!

hope you find somewhere
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[ QUOTE ]
How far are you away from Talland? (http://www.talland.net/) They cater for RDA and also teach to advanced level dressage. They also provide lessons at the weekends and have some brilliant horses.

I'm sure that once you have completed an assessment lesson, you would be able to train at the level you are at.

Good luck.

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That is brilliant! Thank you so much, it sounds perfect!
 
I had a school master lesson at Talland and while I was there there was a disabled lady who was riding what looked to be her own horse and all the mounting blocks etc had wheelchair ramps. Thats a great idea from happihorse!

I volunteered at RDA a few years ago and by the sounds of what level you're at, most of the groups would be far to basic for you (if they are all like the one I helped at?) and Talland would be far more suitable. Good luck
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I'm very sorry you had such a negative kick back from that school; I hope it is suitably ashamed of itself for its attitude towards you. However, every cloud has a silver lining so perhaps you will have success at Talland, I do hope so; you sound as if you deserve it for all your hard work and competing successes.
 
Really sorry the RDA in your area couldn't help you. I actually keep my horse at livery at an RDA centre in Kent and they are brilliant, they have classes two evening a week and at the weekends, what a shame you're not closer but hope you find what you're looking for at Talland.
 
Couldn't you take out your own insurance and sign a disclaimer so you could ride anywhere at your own risk? Consult your solicitor! I know a lady who has lymphoma (her platelet count is so low that a fall could kill her) She competes at her own risk and with her own insurance. She would rather go out doing something she loves!
 
Many thanks to everyone for being to encouraging.

I've called Tallend and they have agreed to take me. So many, many thanks happihorse. I'm sure I will be a tad embarrassed at my lack of horsemanship, but I'm equally sure that they will be the right people to improve me.

Excellent idea YorkshireLass, I'm sure many stables would be happy to do this and I did suggest it to one yard... they wouldn't agree to it so I didn't pursue it with anyone else. I guess as far as riding goes, I've got put off too easily...

One ends up wondering if one has a large sign on one's forehead "KEEP AWAY"
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Seriously, I have thought that there must be something awful about me to warrant being turned down at every stage. That's why I gave up looking for so long, it was only a conversation I had last week with an owner I used to ride for that's got me looking again.

Thank you all, especially happihorse, once again.
 
I'm glad they are not too far from you. I think you will really find it a brilliant place to go and learn. I used to have lessons on one of their advanced schoolmasters when I was without a horse, and I was even doing piaffe! It really was brilliant. They were located at the old yard when I went, but I beleive that they have moved premises within the last couple of years and there are even better facilities!

Good luck and please keep us updated on how you get on.
 
Many thanks happihorse, I'm thrilled about it and I'll certainly bore you to death with updates
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