What do RDA think about this

I'd have thought if you wanted an answer from the RDA on it you'd be better off asking them directly.
 
No idea about the RDA but I think it looks wonderful fun .
My only worry would be the lack of a groom on board .
 
Boy has independence, which is a big thing, but yes he should be kitted out in safety gear and probably have an able bodied groom at all times., for safety of him and pony. Articles written by journalists tend to be brief on detail.
Re the harness, I would be interested in others comments on the harness, I have my own thoughts.
 
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not sure about the just driving a non driving pony without doing the job properly and him not wearing a hat but the idea seems like a good one for established driving horses
 
An oddly posed question. Why would they have a "position"?

Personally I think it's great, although I would much prefer to see the lad wearing a helmet of course. I think this may suit some disabled people, but not all, and I imagine there are particular physical and psychological benefits from riding and/or being in the saddle that driving would not provide.
 
I was rather churlish in my previous answer - Welcome to the forum Simon, I've long been an admirer of what I believe started out life as the turfsurfer, indeed the pony I had hoped to get one for is coming back to live with me tomorrow.
 
Simon, I believe you have already spoken to RDA about the Saddle Chariot in the past, so why not contact them about the Ibex version? I think the Ibex looks great, and it seems to be working well for some disabled people so maybe an option the driving establishment would be happier with? The criticism I'd have of the photos you've linked to is lack of safety gear on the people, I would think the RDA wouldn't be too happy about that.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
another thread started with a loaded post. wonder if it will be like the last one.
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What is loaded about asking for the opinion of Riding for the Disabled who advertise themselves as "Riding for the Disabled Incorporating Carriage Driving", about a vehicle which can take any person, with any disability, in any wheelchair, across any terrain?
 
Well, you're asking in the wrong place. If you want an opinion from the RDA then contact them. They might stumble on a thread on the Horse and Hound forum, but that's rather a strange way to go about things.
 
Riding for the Disabled have refused to communicate with me since 2001. In 2012 the head of a charity approached Ed Bracher, the Chief Exec of RDA to see if they could work with me and the iBex. The head of the charity reported back to me Ed Bracher's reaction.

"He said what you know that ‘every single part of the horseworld’ is in agreement that they are not going to accept the vehicle."

If that is communication, I hate to think what they will do when they are not communicating. Personally, I don't think that RDA is capable of making any rational decision on safety as it is clear they refuse to look at evidence. I am just interested to see if they have anyone in their organisation interested in joining the 20th century. I wouldn't expect them to joint the 21st Century any time soon.
 
You need someone to go about promoting this properly Simon. Blogging like this won't help your cause http://saddlechariot.blogspot.co.uk/p/thinking-outside-horsebox.html
Sorry, but that's the harsh reality. You seem to be attacking shoeing horses, using bits, using whips, wearing a safety helmet... whether or not your product is good, you yourself need some credibility.
Without getting into everything in that blog I'll just mention that the carriage drivers I know use their long whips for guidance, not for beating their horses. They put it out to the side to catch the horse's eye in a turn, and sometimes use it to get cars to keep a distance.
 
Pony Access said:
Riding for the Disabled have refused to communicate with me since 2001. In 2012 the head of a charity approached Ed Bracher, the Chief Exec of RDA to see if they could work with me and the iBex. The head of the charity reported back to me Ed Bracher's reaction.

"He said what you know that ‘every single part of the horseworld’ is in agreement that they are not going to accept the vehicle."

If that is communication, I hate to think what they will do when they are not communicating. Personally, I don't think that RDA is capable of making any rational decision on safety as it is clear they refuse to look at evidence. I am just interested to see if they have anyone in their organisation interested in joining the 20th century. I wouldn't expect them to joint the 21st Century any time soon.
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Well, if you're lucky you'll bump into someone useful from the RDA on the Horse and Hound forum. Anyway, it is possible to help disabled people be with horses without involving the RDA, as you know. The more you do and the more good work becomes known then that might change opinions. Taking a confrontational approach as above isn't going to help.
 
hmmm reading the blog a few things spring to mind, taking a pony on a 16 day trek with no preparation is madness and by your own admission dangerous, not a very good advertisement and certainly not one that would encourage me to entrust my horses or childs safety to you or your product. driving on pavements is illegal, whips are used as a signaling device to other road users not to beat your pony with, perhaps educate yourself before encouraging others to follow your lead and put themselves in danger. I can understand why the RDA are not interested in communicating with you when safety seems to be very low on your list of priorities.
 
Pony Access said:
Riding for the Disabled have refused to communicate with me since 2001. In 2012 the head of a charity approached Ed Bracher, the Chief Exec of RDA to see if they could work with me and the iBex. The head of the charity reported back to me Ed Bracher's reaction.

"He said what you know that ‘every single part of the horseworld’ is in agreement that they are not going to accept the vehicle."

If that is communication, I hate to think what they will do when they are not communicating. Personally, I don't think that RDA is capable of making any rational decision on safety as it is clear they refuse to look at evidence. I am just interested to see if they have anyone in their organisation interested in joining the 20th century. I wouldn't expect them to joint the 21st Century any time soon.
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have you ever considered that if you keep doing something the same way and keep getting the same result (or responses in this case), maybe you should change the way you do things?

your inventions are good, your intentions are good but your attitude is all wrong. You are not going to change people's minds this way, its just a same that you seem unwilling or unable to see that.
 
Have the RDA given an actual reason why they won't comment? Something specific?

The vehicle is a great idea (not so sure about the harness) but in all honesty that blog needs to be dissociated from it! Very, very aggressive and doesn't help.
 
To keep things on track, I think the way forward is for one RDA group to trial it.
All it takes is one forward thinking RDA person with the authority to try it out, and report back on their experience. This has happened with alternatives to treed saddles, due to other groups having to source something that suited their clients, and the RDA following once they realised the benefits to their riders.
Good luck, Simon, I hope it all moves forward quickly.
 
Bonkers2 said:
Boy has independence, which is a big thing, but yes he should be kitted out in safety gear and probably have an able bodied groom at all times., for safety of him and pony. Articles written by journalists tend to be brief on detail.
Re the harness, I would be interested in others comments on the harness, I have my own thoughts.
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It's difficult to comment of the harness from the picture .
It looks like the saddle has been designed to prevent pressure over the spine .
The piece of the collar / chest girth thingy looks to thin for my liking.
And it's a very peculiar way that the draft is achieved but I would have to see it in use to think that through ,
Don't like the fact that the reins are trough anything on the was to the hand as there's nothing on top the collar thingy to allow this .
My biggest worry would be where is the pressure when the horse is in draught if it's on the top of the back that's not good .
And has it brakes ?
No hat or gloves on the child no excuse for that ,very very bad practice .
You can't see if a groom can stand on the back if they can able bodied or otherwise that would make it a huge no no for me .
There are carriage companies that make carriages that take wheels chairs on a more traditional type carriage these all allow for a groom on board .
The consequences when a horse gets away from a driver are awful and with a child in a wheel chair with no one else on board it does not bear thinking about .
 
I don't understand the advantages to other para driving set ups- having watched people with many different disabilities driving at the championships at sandringham last year, which incorporate the safety of a back stepper.
 
Our local RDA have a gig and a pony that drives. It's not all about riding but the influence being around horses has on the RDA members. Would definitely like to see him with helmet and gloves though
 
I've seen videos of the quick release safety feature which instantly frees the carriage from the horse.
This would suit some people with disabilities very well. It isn't perfect for everyone though, but very little is!
 
Would I strap my inexperienced child to some wheels and attach them to the back of an inexperienced pony? No thank you.

The RDA have A LOT of experience in this matter and have a lot of resources on their website, it looks as if you would fail the assessment to become an RDA whip with this set up
(10) Safety - Use of hard hats, gloves, correct size of whip, etc. Recognise signs of impending trouble.
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ozpoz said:
I've seen videos of the quick release safety feature which instantly frees the carriage from the horse.
This would suit some people with disabilities very well. It isn't perfect for everyone though, but very little is!
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What happens to the horse and carriage when they are detached from each other yet still travelling at speed?
 
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