Has anyone ever donated their horse to the RDA?

Cinnamontoast

Cinnamontoast

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Just pondering. For those of you who don't know, I've had a pretty severe accident and I don't know what I want to do with my horse currently. I'm not bothered about riding him nor am I concerned about getting money for him. I am very worried at the prospect of him ending up being ragged around by someone if I were to sell him (he has an arthritic hock) and I'm having an issue finding a paying sharer.

He could go out on loan until I decide what to do with him, I certainly don't use him much, but I'd panic about how he was being treated. He'd have to stay locally for my peace of mind.

Has anyone ever donated a horse to the RDA? It might mean that I could volunteer, still see him, know he was being looked after. He's a good lad, steady, looks after his rider.

I don't think anyone I know would want him on loan. Dunno.

Any ideas, anyone? I would have nothing to do at weekends without a horse to care for and zero social life without the yard. It's early on to be considering anything drastic, so I'm just pondering, not going to take any rash decisions until I'm off box rest.
 
I personally wouldnt want a horse of mine with the RDA, they usually look pretty naffed off and bored ime. Don't underestimate how quickly you will heal, you could be back on board in a couple of months, thd human body is pretty amazings ;) x
 
Depends on which RDA place you have in mind. They are all independent. Some better than others.
I worked at one for a number of years but eventually started to feel sorry for the horses carrying dead unlevel weights. It is not like you see at the Oltmpics
 
Sorry tried to correct spelling and silly phone sent post.
Some riders banged up and down on the horses backs because they were excited. I would not give a horse to this life. Sorry but I have experience in this area
 
I agree if horses are only used for RDA, but I used to take mine every week and that worked very well.
RDA is a wonderful thing and if you choose to be a helper I'm sure you'd love it.
 
I volunteered with the local RDA for a while. It was based at a riding school, so they just used RS ponies (some on 'working livery'), and the instructor/owner didn't seem too enthused.... plod round the school, walk down the lane, a trot if they were lucky....
 
Please consider volunteering for the Rda anyway as we are always short of volunteers :D

Maybe it depends on which Rda - Ive only got experience of one, however the ponies are all well treated and any kids that are "banging up and down" on the horses backs are stopped from doing it. We have strict weight limits and the ponies aren't worked hard at all - certainly not worked anything like as hard as "normal" riding schools. Any child that causes repeated pain due to behaviour etc - if they cannot be stopped then they are stopped from riding.

Not sure what you mean by donate though? Do you mean give up ownership?
I would say that Rda is not a home for life if that is what you are looking for your horse. Many horses aren't suitable to be used for Rda even after the training they get whilst there. Also, if they have injuries or develop injuries that stop them being ridden safely and if they cannot be rehabilated they will be sold. At the end of the day the Rda is run purely on donations and by volunteers and cannot afford to keep horses that cannot be used for whatever reason, so donating your horse to the Rda does not ensure that he will stay there forever.
 
I am quite involved in RDA. Each local group is independent. I know of large groups with 30 horses and small ones with use of one.

The group that I have most to do with is one with 10 horses/ponies of which 3 are permanent loans, these three will go back to their owners when they are no longer up to doing RDA work. We have an ex show pony and some ex pony club ponies. They came to us for a slower paced life with limited cantering and jumping. Our able bodied helpers hack the ponies out to keep them sweet.

The horses/ponies must be able to cope with unbalance riders as some disabilities prevent the rider from ever being truly balanced.

Horses which can no longer do the job are usually put down, or sold if it is the job that they do not like. This is because of charity commission rules, we are a charity for providing rides to the disabled not a charity for looking after pensioned horses. A few have gone to live out their days as companions to helpers horses.

I would suggest putting your horse on permanent loan to the RDA and have him back when he retires so that you have control over his life.
 
I'm another who'd say wait and see how your healing goes, it is true that healing can be pretty dramatic and you might be up and about faster than you realise (hopefully!) :)

I'd wait a few months before making any decisions.
 
We used to loan a pony that would go away for a month in the summer on the RDA summer camp, I'm not sure if something like that would be suitable? He was a robust 13.2 welsh section C and I would imagine had a whale of a time.
 
My cob was borrowed by the RDA for the summer camp which was just down the road from her field. We told them she couldn't be turned out with others so during the day (breaks etc) she went in her own little paddock next to the others and was brought back to her own field at night to stay with my gelding. This was only for 2 days though. She was perfect but probably would be too silly to do it now.

I've worked with 2 different RDA groups, the one that borrowed my mare were brilliant very knowledge and I would happily let them have my mare again (if she wasn't so stupid now) but the other group I wouldn't let near her. They were very un-horsey, more carers for the riders rather than horsey people, the horses were looked after by the stables so not a welfare issue but their general handling and lack of skill showed when they were collecting the horses and tacking up etc. There was a nasty accident when they let a young lad in a wheelchair led one of the more spooky ones and it freaked and ran off, pulling him out his wheelchair. We all knew you shouldn't use that horse of that type of thing but they didn't realise a horse could be scared of a wheelchair :rolleyes:
If you do your homework, maybe volunteer first and get to know the set up and then decide if you think you horse would be suitable and them suitable to look after him.
 
The RDA horses have to be assessed and a lot don't make it.

To be totally honest, I used to be at a place where horses were donated, often because they had niggles. BUT they were worked so very hard, coping with unbalanced, often overweight riders, for up to three/four hours a day. God knows what their back were like. And the kids didn't know how to tack up...In a school ring, same thing day in and out. because of finances the horses were not properly fed, it was a disgrace.

Some of the horses at other centres that have been donated are so old and frail, it's clear that the owners are just dodging the bullet thinking their horse is "doing some good" when again, it's subjected to heavy and unbalanced riders.

So no, the very last place I would want a horse to go is to RDA.
 
How big is your horse? The RDA helpers have to walk alongside the riders to ensure they can steady any un-balanced riders, so anything bigger than a large pony probably wouldn't be suitable in most circumstances.
 
I have volunteered at our local group for the last 4 years. We have two horses that are owned by the RDA , one was gifted and one was bought. The horses will live out their time with our group once retired as there are plenty of people with the land and time. All the others are borrowed and are used outside of their work .
We have strict limits on weight and have a driving group aswell. We dont allow the kids to bounce around, the horses get a good groom and plenty of fuss each time. Some come 3 times a week as we run every day.
They do switch off while they are at ours and dobbin around but are very different when being used elsewhere .One goes hunting every weekend !!
We have a mix of helpers some horsey and some more for the kids.
The horses are all well looked after and not exactly overworked. Several of mine have been used at various times and the weight limits strictly adhered to. I would go and check out your local group. We have been offered freebies but have not taken them on so dont count on it . Good luck
 
My friend did but was told by the RDA to take the mare back as she was too lazy!

I didnt think you could have a horse too lazy for RDA?!
 
Ive worked at a few different riding schools, one of them did rides for disabled people. Im afraid id never wish any horse a life in a riding school, they never get one to one love or attention, or a really long groom, there just isn't time unless some child asks if they can groom a horse. Also as much as riding is wonderful thing for disabled people remember they are a dead weight on a horses back and can be very loud. And before anyone says im nasty for saying this my brother is disabled and he used to sit on my old cob when he was younger but only occasionally and he was quiet as well. Your horse could also be used for hours a day just being dragged around the same old school or route, not really enjoyable.
 
My old boy does RDA three times a week as they come to our yard. They have been brilliant and always look after him. He has done it for about 10 years! It doesn't matter in regards to height as he is 16.1hh and up until 2009 he was doing BE novice with me :D
It's now brilliant in maintaining a good level of fitness and ensuring he has a leg stretch, one of the helpers also hacks him out once a week, which is great in the winter when I'm not down until after dark. Also gives me time to focus on my 6yo training...
No harm in contacting them...
 
SNORKEY said:
Ive worked at a few different riding schools, one of them did rides for disabled people. Im afraid id never wish any horse a life in a riding school, they never get one to one love or attention, or a really long groom, there just isn't time unless some child asks if they can groom a horse. Also as much as riding is wonderful thing for disabled people remember they are a dead weight on a horses back and can be very loud. And before anyone says im nasty for saying this my brother is disabled and he used to sit on my old cob when he was younger but only occasionally and he was quiet as well. Your horse could also be used for hours a day just being dragged around the same old school or route, not really enjoyable.
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I have to disagree with the above, never in the 10 years that mine has done RDA have I witnessed any of the above. Always carefully assessed for weight etc. Also they groom, tack up etc. Even turn my boy out for me check his rugs, contact me if they are concerned about anything. Never had an issue... But maybe some RDA groups aren't as good as others, maybe go and watch a few times?
 
What about just short term loaning to the rda or a rs till you are well again? One of my friends used to loan hers to the rda, it suited hers down to the ground. Infact, after she had it back for years one man used to still come & ride & visit it on a friend basis.
 
I volunteered some years ago before I had my horse. I didn't do enough to see how it really was.

The horse is 15.1, pretty steady but can spook, although this is more of a tiny sideways jerk, never a big thing and only if there's something seriously scary.

I just don't know. I don't really ride myself but I'd be too worried to sell, I think. I may have a chat with my farrier who mentioned a client who would take him on loan and basically pamper him. Saying that, this is what I do! I think ideally, I want a fab sharer who can contribute to his upkeep. He's my pet more than anything.
 
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