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Who We Are

In July 1985, Gaile Ogden and Anne Coney visited a Riding for Disabled national holiday in Saffron Waldron.  This holiday was run from a farm house, the outbuildings being used as dining halls and accommodation. Independently, both friends decided that Anne’s home at Bank Farm would be an ideal venue.

So, in July 1986 the first holiday for 8 disabled children was held at Bank Farm.  Financial support was given by the Lions Clubs in the area and on the last night they were invited to come and see how their money had been spent.  That night, a well respected physiotherapist for disabled children in the area asked ‘ why don’t you run lessons here for independent disabled children, I can supply them!’.   The team that had got together for the camp agreed to give this a go and Bank Farm RDA started with one rider and one pony on September 6th 1986.

To date our group has run 18 National RDA holidays and 14 National carriage driving holidays. As time went on, we started to collect more and more riders.  Nearly 40 years later, we have 7 ponies and 60 children taking part in our weekly sessions and have built a thriving and happy community.

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Who We Are

What We Do

Bank Farm Riding for the Disabled (RDA) aims to provide life-changing experiences for

local disabled children, through activities like riding and carriage driving.

 

We focus on providing:

  • Therapeutic and health benefits of bringing people and horses together.

  • Access to physical exercise

  • Positive, long-term impact on confidence levels, relationship building, communication skills, enjoyment and sense of achievement.

  • Regular riding to improve core strength, balance and co-ordination

  • Ways to combat isolation and boost wellbeing and happiness, through inclusion and connection.

  • Volunteering opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities developing new skills, connecting with people, providing a common purpose and boosting physical and mental wellbeing.

 

We do not charge for our sessions so that no one is excluded on financial grounds, we have no paid staff, and deliver our activities thanks to our donors, sponsors and enthusiastic volunteers.

We are also thrilled to now be offering hippotherapy! Find out more here - https://chilternhippotherapy.co.uk/

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What We Do

Who We've Helped

We believe the work we have done over the past 35 years has truly enriched the lives of the children we try to help. But, don't take our word for it! Hear it from our previous and current riders.

Who We've Helped

Our daughter has been riding with Bank Farm for many years now and from that very first day she has been treated with a truly inspiring degree of love and kindness. Every ride has three people supporting her to make sure that she is both safe and enjoying herself. The reward is her huge grin and happy noises. She loves coming to riding which helps both her mental and physical wellbeing, and we love how delighted and excited she is to be with the horses and learning new skills.

Bank Farm Riding has transformed my son. He is so happy on the pony now.

Meet our ponies

Storm

For information, please click the photo above.

Fudge

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Bella

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Lucky

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Titi

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Domino

For information, please click the photo above.

Rosie

For information, please click the photo above.

meet our ponies
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