Henderson RDA

Our dear old Markie has just retired after serving the children of Henderson RDA for four years.  We’ll miss you Markie!

our gorgeous and patient new pony, Lacey.

We are very grateful to the Lion Foundation who provided us with a grant for the purchase of  Lacey.  Their philosophy is ‘make a difference’ and that is exactly what their grant has done for some young West Aucklanders with disabilities.

Riding is back on for term four,  25 October – 6 December.

We had a great boost when Henkel Sellotape and Mobil each sent a team of workers to do some much needed maintenance work at our site.  Weeds cleared, pens and poles painted, paths water-blasted, equipment cleaned and sorted, drains cleared, rubbish removed from paddocks.   Just when we really needed a lift, we got one.  Read more in our up-coming newsletter next week.

Unfortunately we are unable to operate in the current weather conditions due to the wet grounds and lack of shelter. Riding sessions will resume in term four. Meanwhile we are continuing to do all we can to achieve our goal to have all weather facilities for riding all year round.

We are used to dealing with changing weather but we don’t often get fog.   Tuesday the 24th May was a very foggy morning and it gave the place an eerie atmosphere.

Our AGM is to be held on Tuesday 12th April at 1 pm at Henderson Valley Pony Club Clubrooms.  All welcome.

Several new volunteers have joined our team this term, and are greatly needed.  We aim to have enough volunteers on the ground so that each child can have the same people working with them each week giving them consistency in their learning programme.  There have been a number of training days in the Auckland area this term, for new volunteers and for experienced volunteers wanting to further their skills, which many of our volunteers have attended.

Henderson RDA welcomes back  riders, volunteers and supporters. We hope you all had an enjoyable holiday break.

Term one commences on Monday 7 February . Rallies will continue to be held on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

If you would like to join us a as volunteer, we’d love to have you on board. Contact Norma on 813 3030.

It poured with rain on 17th January but that didn’t’ stop two volunteers from Young Labour’s Clarion Tour joining us to build a much needed fence in our orchard paddock.

Shona Jowett and Angus Hodgson (in the red T-shirts)  along with other volunteers  have been stopping off in various cities and volunteering as they go for any charitable organisation that could use their services.  Henderson RDA were one of the organisations to benefit.  The fence was built under the supervision of our ever supportive Lilo family who directed the work and did a great job of sourcing all the material from used posts and rails that were redundant at Pony Club.  Shona was a dab hand with the spirit level and Angus mixed up an exellent cement mix!

It was a great effort and a fun afternoon and so good to get the fence up!  A huge thank you to Shona, Angus and the Lilo family.