RDA

the best thing to do would be to find your nearest 2/3 groups on it, contact them all, and if things sound positive, go and visit any that are interested.

Some horses at our centre are loaned for 6 months, some indefinitely, and some horses are owned by the centre. The owners can visit when they like within reason (!) and my friend keeps tabs on her cob by being a volunteer too.

You can say how much work your horse can/can't do, but the workload is pretty heavy for the majority. We even have a horse that was doomed due to laminitis/ management issues, but that's all resolved now due to the exercise, stabling and controlled diet.

But do go and check out the centre you are thinking of, and make sure it's right for the horse.

Hope that helps :)

ps I adore volunteering at the RDA, so if anyone fancies a go, it's sooooooo worth it ;)
 
Thank you. That's really helpful, i will get emailing. He's my mum's pony and in the near future she's probably going into care so I'd like him to go somewhere she could continue to see him and for him to carry on doing what he's enjoys!
 
Yes Badger. He's great thanks. Looking like a yak and moulting like anything as we didn't clip him this year and he's living out but he's happy enough.
 
Had to turn signatures back on!

I'll mention him to our group if you like but I know we are really after a 13.2.

Your other horse looks lovely too.
 
I am a member of the committee for a local RDA group (too far away to be any use to you, unfortunately). The groups differ greatly. Ours was part of a RS on a working farm but the owner retired RDA. Because there is no indoor school and the vast majority of our riders have learning difficulties we only ride in the Summer.
Some of the ponies are still owned by the farm, others have been loaned/given to the group. They all live on the farm all year, unless of course their owner wants them back. TBH they have a very light workload and really only work for a couple of hours each week - a perfect retirement home. Some of the younger ones are ridden by the RI's family as well.
 
Very sorry to hear about your mum:-(

As pearlasinger said it varies dramatically between groups: some are fulltime centers doing multiple lessons a day, others just do ponyrides at the weekends during the summer.

Badger would make a fab RDA horses: right size and build, good temperament, happy on leadrein.

Best bet is to go and visit some nearby centers and see what they say.
 
Several centres also have horses for use in the driving carts - for clients who do not have the ability to sit on a horse. And our centre also has mini shetties for petting too.

Tbh, I am sure Badger will be snapped up, if not fought over ;). 14.2 ponies are in huge demand, as they can be ridden by kids and small adults, and they are just the right height for sidewalkers too when clients have to wear a safety belt (which the sidewalkers hold on to)!

Do keep us posted how you get on :)
 
Sorry to hear about your mum Gina :(

I was wondering where you and Jobo had been, have missed seeing your updates. How's Prince and Bodey doing?

No idea regarding RDA but I hope you find somewhere for Badger to go, I'm sure he'd be perfect for it :)
 
Thanks everyone, really useful info. I don't think it will matter what workload he has as long as he gets a little daily attention he is happy.

It's a bit up in the air as to what's happening at the mo so i'm exploring a few different options. It may be that i'll need to keep him as a companion to Prince as Jo may be moving up north to be with her bf in which case i'll try and find a sharer for him or ride him myself more but it may also be that i'll have to move to livery and i can't afford both him and Prince.

Prince and Bodey are well though thank you. Prince is coming back into work after an injury so we've just been hacking for the last 6 weeks and have just started schooling again :D and Jo has a new man and so has stopped competing so much.

Here's a few more pics of him recently. I apologise that he is so muddy but he lives out and is always covered in wet mud when we want to ride! The first ones are of his new bling bridle and then me riding and then mum having a lesson. :D

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I'm sorry about your Mum :( I hope that you find a nice home for Badger and your Mum can continue to see him. He's a smashing pony and will be an asset to an RDA group I'm certain.
 
I too am sorry to hear about your Mum :(

However, Badger is gorgeous!! Any RDA group would be lucky to have him. He is such a cutie, he'll be very popular.

ETA - on reflection, i think its so fantastic of you to consider the RDA. Not many people do think of them when needing to rehome/sell their horse. I think its a fantastic thing your doing and im sure your Mum will be thrilled at the oppertunity to see him still.
 
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Badger looks fantastic. He sounds like an ideal pony for an RDA group. Years ago when my circumstances changed I sold a pony to the RDA. He has the most fantastic home. Lots of attention and care and a varied workload. He gives lessons to clients and staff at his centre and competes around the country for them. He went on a trial for a month to check he would be suitable, then one of their sponsors bought him for the centre.

I have never regretted him going to such a great home.

I hope you find a happy way forward for you all.
 
I teach at a RDA centre and riding school on the surrey/london borders. This is a small centre with just 10 horses, all of which are used for able-bodied as well as RDA teaching - they get a good variety of work this way, and also get to go hacking.

I think they would be very interested in loaning badger if there was an opportunity to do so - feel free to pm me if you want any contact info.

I think you will be able to home him very easily - he is a sort that is like gold-dust!
 
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