Clydesdale Riding for the Disabled

07/06/2026

Our final volunteer spotlight is on Louise, who joined us in July 2021. Unfortunately we don't have a picture of Louise as we were rained off on Wednesday.

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A little about them:
I have been around horses in way or another since the age of 7. Still riding as much as I can, but at a slower pace these days. Age and experience have made me risk averse!

Why they joined:
To be around horses, but also to give something back.

What they love about volunteering:
The banter and willingness of the team.

A favourite memory:
Seeing our riders win rosettes - they joy on their faces makes the cold nights worthwhile!

What they’ve gained:
I have gained friendship and humbleness.

What's something you wish people knew about volunteering at RDA? You don't need to have experience!
Which pony has stolen your heart and why? Dolly, she gives so much.

What keeps you coming back each week? Seeing the amazing benefits to the riders. Just last week I witnessed a none verbal rider interact with a male volunteer in a way that I wished I had been filming, it will stay with me forever.

What does RDA mean to you in one sentence? Incredible animal and sport therapy for people excluded from so many other sporting opportunities.
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We’re so grateful to have Louise as part of the Clydesdale RDA family.

Thank you for everything you bring to the yard.

06/06/2026

Our penultimate volunteer spotlight is Chrissie, who joined us in January 2026.
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Tell us a bit about yourself outside of RDA.
I'm a Geordie and moved up to Scotland many eons ago for University. I loved it so much I never left! I have two boys, 7 and 10, who keep me on the very tips of my toes. I work at the University of Strathclyde, live in the Clyde Valley and keep a small flock of sheep with my partner and boys. We also have cheeky but loveable Jack Russell called Rocky.

What first inspired you to volunteer with Clydesdale RDA?
I spotted a post on Facebook and thought that it sounded like a great opportunity to do something social and active with people and ponies!

What do you enjoy most about being part of the team?
Connecting with the other volunteers, riders and ponies. They've been so welcoming and friendly.

Can you share a favourite moment or memory from your time volunteering?
Helping out at the West & Central Scotland Regional Qualifiers 2026 and watching the riders compete with confidence and good humour, especially in the rain and hailstones!

What do you feel you’ve gained or learned through volunteering here?
It has deepened my understanding of the needs and experiences of the riders and also given me the opportunity to develop practical skills and confidence around ponies. It has been really rewarding.

Favourite Pony: Badger

What's something you wish people knew about volunteering at RDA?
That it's fun!

Which pony has stolen your heart and why?
Badger

What keeps you coming back each week?
The people and the ponies.

What does RDA mean to you in one sentence?
A lovely opportunity to get out of of the house and do something different with great people and lovely ponies.
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We’re so grateful to have Chrissie as part of the Clydesdale RDA family.
Thank you for everything you bring to the yard.

06/06/2026

I would like to add my thoughts to all the tributes to Anthony Stewart Head after his recent passing.

I had the privilege of meeting him many years ago, in 2003, at the RDA National Championships. Timmy Duncan, Pat Renson-Jowett and myself took our pony, Harry, and one of our riders to compete in one of the dressage classes. I saw a man who I vaguely recognised at one of the demonstrations. Fast forward to the presentations and the same man, Anthony Head was introduced to present prizes. He offered to sign autographs for anyone who wanted one. I accepted his offer, and ended up having a long conversation with him. We got on to talking about the RDA competition. He was very impressed with the whole atmosphere at Hartpury, where he said everything was very calm and friendly, and focussed on ponies and riders, in total contrast to able-bodied competition with whips and rivalries.
He was a lovely man, easy to talk to, and could easily see the value of what we do.
Anne

05/06/2026

We now turn our volunteer spotlight to Becky, who joined us in October 2023.

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Tell us a bit about yourself outside of RDA.
I am about to graduate with a degree in Speech and Language Therapy. It's been a long road, and the thought of the next step in that is quite daunting. I am a Mum and have 3 children: James, my autistic superhero; Eve, my sidekick; and Ollie, my boy wonder, who defies whatever prognosis he was given.

What first inspired you to volunteer with Clydesdale RDA?
I started out at another RDA, Muirfield, for a 6-week Community Partnership Placement while at university. I loved it so much that I continued to volunteer with them for over a year. After the long drives, I started looking for something closer to home. The yard where my daughter (Eve) rides held Clydesdale RDA. So I joined the Wednesday group in October 2023.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the team?
The chat, seeing the progression of all our riders and volunteers. I love the chat!! You’ll find me chatting to everyone and anyone. I love seeing how it affects the riders. It can affect their mood, engage their cognitive skills and give them confidence.

Can you share a favourite moment or memory from your time volunteering?
The Regional Qualifiers!!! There's so much buzz about the day!! Our riders are superstars; we came away with two Firsts, a few Seconds, and Thirds. The pathway to Nationals is coming in 2027!!! Maybe a wee scouting mission this year to go see what it's all about.

What do you feel you’ve gained or learned through volunteering here?
I have gained a lot more knowledge. I am currently a Coach in Training, and my goal for this year is to achieve my Group Coach Certificate. I have also learned that it's important to keep charities like Clydesdale RDA going, but we need volunteers! Without generous people giving up their time, we wouldn’t be running. That includes those working behind the scenes, like our secretary, treasurer, fundraiser, and chair (though we see her all the time).

Favourite Pony: Badger

What's something you wish people knew about volunteering at RDA?
It's fun. You don’t have to know anything about horses. Layer up; you can remove layers if you're too hot. There is lots of training available.
Which pony has stolen your heart and why?
I like Badger, although you may not see it at RDA, that pony has fire in her belly, and you need to see her on a Pony Games day!! Zoomy, zoom, zoom.

What keeps you coming back each week?
The sense of community, we are all aiming for the same thing!! To make riding accessible and enjoyable for all.

What does RDA mean to you in one sentence?
RDA is where I get to make a real difference in someone’s life while finding my own sense of peace, purpose, and belonging.

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We’re so grateful to have Becky as part of the Clydesdale RDA family.

Thank you for everything you bring to the yard.

04/06/2026

Today's spotlight is on Lorraine, who joined us in January 2026.

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A little about them:
I'm married with two daughters and a labradoodle! Much of my spare time now seems to revolve around horses, despite having known absolutely nothing about them until a few years ago! I enjoy walking the dog, cooking, eating out when I can, spending time outdoors and have
recently discovered a new hobby - painting! My main job, other than being a taxi service for two
horse-mad daughters, is working as an optometrist for the NHS in an education role.

Why they joined:
Initially, it was a chance to do something for someone else and focus on something completely different from work. My two daughters are horse and pony obsessed, and through them I was introduced to a world I knew absolutely nothing about. As they became involved with horses, I found myself drawn in too and wanted to give something back to a community that offers so much to so many people.

What they love about volunteering:
The people and the sense of community. It's lovely meeting people from all walks of life, brought together by a shared desire to help others. RDA is such a positive environment and volunteering there is a welcome change from the pressures of everyday work and life. The occasional offer of some fresh eggs is an added bonus!

A favourite memory:
Watching the riders receive rosettes and seeing how proud they were of their achievements was
a real highlight. It's wonderful seeing children relax, grow in confidence and come out of their
shell when they're with the ponies.

What they’ve gained:
A whole new appreciation for horses and the therapeutic skills they have! Before my daughters became interested in riding, I'd never really been around horses and knew very little about them. It's been a steep learning curve, but in my mid-forties I've discovered a genuine love of all things equine. I find horses incredibly calming to be around and I'm amazed by their intelligence, quirky personalities and the connection they build with people. The more I learn, the more I realise there is still so much to discover.

What's something you wish people knew about volunteering at RDA?
You don't need to know anything about horses to get involved. I certainly didn't! There's a role for everyone, plenty of support, and it's a great way to meet people while making a genuine difference to others.

Favourite Pony?
Badger.

Which pony has stolen your heart and why? Badger. She's got such a calm, reassuring nature. She's the sort of pony that makes both riders and volunteers feel safe and relaxed.

What keeps you coming back each week?
The people, the ponies and seeing the difference it makes. It's lovely to watch children grow in confidence, and genuinely enjoy their time with the ponies. It's also a great reminder that there are lots of kind, generous people willing to give their time to help others.

What does RDA mean to you in one sentence? RDA restores my faith in humanity, bringing
together kindness, community, encouragement and the incredible connection between people
and ponies.

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We’re so grateful to have Lorraine as part of the Clydesdale RDA family.

Thank you for everything you bring to the yard.

03/06/2026

Today's volunteer spotlight is on Stacey, who joined us in March 2020.

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A little about them:
I love volunteering and also volunteer at Biggar museum. I love museums and art galleries.

Why they joined:
I saw an ad on a volunteer website.

What they love about volunteering:
I love getting to see everyone each week and getting to talk to everyone.

A favourite memory:
I love helping one of our riders. She used to just want to hold onto the saddle but now she is holding the reins. It’s great to see the riders progressing.

What they’ve gained:
I have gained more confidence and learned more about horses.

Favourite Pony?
I love them all.

Which pony has stolen your heart and why?
I loved Maverick but he passed away. I miss him a lot.

What keeps you coming back each week?
I love helping the riders and love spending time with the horses.

What does RDA mean to you in one sentence?
I love helping out and love to see how happy it makes the riders.
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We’re so grateful to have Stacey as part of the Clydesdale RDA family.

Thank you for everything you bring to the yard.

02/06/2026

In today’s lessons we were having lots of fun practicing turn taking and waiting on our friends 🐴❤️

02/06/2026

Our next Volunteer Spotlight is Jo who joined us in 2012 as a mum of a rider, became a Trustee in 2019 and is the main contact for all our fundraising efforts.

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A little about them:
I don't like to sit still for long, we have a busy household with 2 teenage boys and a lively dog plus I enjoy running, baking and supporting Lanark Rugby club where my younger son plays for U15 team.

Why they joined:
My son Oliver has been riding with CRDA since age 6 through his then primary school Victoria Park in Carluke - he is now 18 years old!

What they love about volunteering:
You meet such a diverse array of people and need to find a way to work together for the greater good .

A favourite memory:
The joy on people’s faces when we first started taking riders to Glasgow RDA for regional shows - winning rosettes and riding new horses was just wonderful.

What they’ve gained:
Everyone has a part to play and we all bring something different to the group.

What's something you wish people knew about volunteering at RDA?
You don't need to know anything about horses or disabled people.

Favourite Pony?
Maverick who now resides in heaven with Gran & The Queen (according to Ollie!).

What does RDA mean to you in one sentence?
RDA restores my faith in humanity, bringing together kindness, community, encouragement and the incredible connection between people and ponies.

We’re so grateful to have Jo as part of the Clydesdale RDA family.
Thank you for everything you bring to us and for all the money you have helped raise!

01/06/2026

As we celebrate Volunteer's Week, our first Volunteer Spotlight is Eve, who joined us in September 2024.

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A little about them:
I am just starting my third year of high school. During the Easter break, I completed and passed the British Horse Society (BHS) Silver Ride Safe Award and the BHS Stage 1 Ride and Care exams. I now have Level 1 Complete Horsemanship. I enjoy riding and do it as much as possible. I am a young carer for my younger brother, Ollie. I work at the yard on the weekends.

Why they joined:
I’m very interested in horses, and I ride at the yard where Clydesdale rides. My mum was a volunteer there first, and I wanted to get involved and help out. I joined when I turned 12.

What they love about volunteering:
I enjoy going to the competitions and helping the riders.

A favourite memory:
Meeting Precious at Glasgow RDA, she is a gentle and kind horse. I’d love our RDA to have one like her.

What they’ve gained:
I gain Saltire Awards when I volunteer; this is a Scottish Government-supported initiative for all young volunteers.

What's something you wish people knew about volunteering at RDA?
It's fun. You don’t have to know anything about horses. Layer up; you can remove layers if you're too hot. There is lots of training available.

Favourite Pony?
Luna

Which pony has stolen your heart and why?
My favourite Pony is Luna. I ride her regularly in my lessons, and I know her character and quirks. She knows what she likes and doesn’t, and I’ve got to know her better over the years.

What does RDA mean to you in one sentence?
Giving everyone the opportunity to ride is so beneficial in more ways than one.

What keeps you coming back each week?
I only volunteer occasionally just now because I have to support my little brother and attend my young carers group. I help out at the competitions and hope to help out more next term.

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We’re so grateful to have Eve as part of the Clydesdale RDA family.
Thank you for everything you bring to the yard.

16/02/2026

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