VOLUNTEERS NOTES
All volunteers were encourage to take part in RDA e- learning.
This is the link www.rda-learning.org.uk
All volunteers were encourage to take part in RDA e- learning.
This is the link www.rda-learning.org.uk
JULY 2019 REPORT FROM OUR REGIONAL RDA COACH HELEN
Can I just start by saying a huge thank-you to all the coaching team over the last 12 months - and to all the leaders and side walkers, matching bridles to ponies, hat fitting.
In March, we ran our first longer training session.
This was from 10:30 until 3 pm. Amazingly, only two people were unable to attend.
Although longer, people seem to feel they got more out of it. And, as a result, we hope to do the same timescale for our September session.
Emma and I have attended two courses, one in Bristol on the OT view of riding as a therapy and one in Shropshire for the medical module of the coaching certificate.
Lynn and I then also ran a session for six people from the various Stourport groups, who want to become coaches.
It covered the practical modules of Mounting and Dismounting and Preparing and Assessing RDA sessions.
Harriet and Linda both attended and passed.
It will be great to have some new coaches from the group. And we will be hard at work getting them qualified and onto the coaching pathway next term.
Can I just start by saying a huge thank-you to all the coaching team over the last 12 months - and to all the leaders and side walkers, matching bridles to ponies, hat fitting.
In March, we ran our first longer training session.
This was from 10:30 until 3 pm. Amazingly, only two people were unable to attend.
Although longer, people seem to feel they got more out of it. And, as a result, we hope to do the same timescale for our September session.
Emma and I have attended two courses, one in Bristol on the OT view of riding as a therapy and one in Shropshire for the medical module of the coaching certificate.
Lynn and I then also ran a session for six people from the various Stourport groups, who want to become coaches.
It covered the practical modules of Mounting and Dismounting and Preparing and Assessing RDA sessions.
Harriet and Linda both attended and passed.
It will be great to have some new coaches from the group. And we will be hard at work getting them qualified and onto the coaching pathway next term.
NOTES FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
- Sign In.
- Check your name on notice board for day’s tasks.
- Take your name ticket from the board, a prompt to who you are with.
- Put BIB on.
- Find your other team members and decide: -
- Who collects pony-or is pony already in arena?
- (All ponies have a name label)
- Who will collect child and fit hat?
- Change any items of tack that need to be added or removed such as reins and safety stirrups.
- Tighten girth.
- Warm up pony making sure you include some trotting.
- Listen for any instructions or notices.
- Volunteers not warming up pony check if needed to help set up.
- Hat volunteer collects child from bus and fits hat then brings child to the mounting ramp.
- Pony leader double checks the girth and all the tack and waits for instruction to enter mounting area.
- When called Pony leader brings pony alongside mounting ramp.
- Volunteer with rider hands rider over to mounting volunteer, goes down the ramp to join her rider as they leave the mounting area on the pony.
- The teams alongside their mounted rider go to the center of the arena and check the length of the stirrups, the girth, riders position and clothing.
- Join the ride and listen out for instructions from the coach.
- Only one of the side walkers should talk to the child.
- End of ride leader stands in front of pony and side walkers assist the child to dismount. If needed they ask for additional helpers.
- The child is escorted out of the arena, back to school helpers.
- Return hat to correct bag with child’s name.
- Check if pony if requited for next group or returned to stables.
- If to stables loosen girth and remove any RDA tack, replace stables tack.
- When tied up remove bridle.
The Importance of riding at Walk
So much can be achieved at walk (providing this is an active walk, which includes many changes of directions).
Beware thinking that the aim if every session is to include a trot. Trot is something to work towards, when a balance position and confidence has been attained.
So often our riders are asked to trot as a culmination to lessons only to find that they lose the relaxed, flexible balanced seat we have achieved. Then they go into spasm just before they dismount to get into the bus and the benefit of the first part of the lesson is lost.
So make use of the walk to relax encourage, flexibility, self righting abilities and other very real riding skills such as hand dexterity with balance in and aids for transitions halt walk halt.
So much can be achieved at walk (providing this is an active walk, which includes many changes of directions).
Beware thinking that the aim if every session is to include a trot. Trot is something to work towards, when a balance position and confidence has been attained.
So often our riders are asked to trot as a culmination to lessons only to find that they lose the relaxed, flexible balanced seat we have achieved. Then they go into spasm just before they dismount to get into the bus and the benefit of the first part of the lesson is lost.
So make use of the walk to relax encourage, flexibility, self righting abilities and other very real riding skills such as hand dexterity with balance in and aids for transitions halt walk halt.
WHAT TO DO IF RIDER FALLS OFF
The coach will give instructions depending on the incident.
If the coach is not aware of the faller the volunteers with that rider should immediately shout ‘Fall”
If you are the leader behind or in front the incident move away avoiding the fallen rider and stop
If the horse is loose all pony leaders must stop immediately
If you are a side walker and also a first aider DO NOT leave your pony
Until you are replaced-their is usually a first aider watching from outside the arena.
The coach will make a judgment of the situation after the first Aider has assessed the fallen rider
The coach will give instructions depending on the incident.
If the coach is not aware of the faller the volunteers with that rider should immediately shout ‘Fall”
If you are the leader behind or in front the incident move away avoiding the fallen rider and stop
If the horse is loose all pony leaders must stop immediately
If you are a side walker and also a first aider DO NOT leave your pony
Until you are replaced-their is usually a first aider watching from outside the arena.
The coach will make a judgment of the situation after the first Aider has assessed the fallen rider
Clothing
Wear comfortable clothes, and sturdy shoes. Please don’t wear anything flapping as this could either frighten the horse, or tempt a rider to grab it. Discreet jewellery and preferably no necklaces as these can easily be pulled.
The ideal side walker needs:
The function of the side walker:
Please make us aware of any conditions that may affect your performance as a side walker, such as diabetes/asthma/epilepsy. This will not preclude you, as a volunteer but will enable us to provide any necessary support. Discretion is assured.
If a volunteer is expecting an emergency call they should notify the coach, turn their phone onto vibrate or give their phone to a volunteer outside the arena.
Please Note:
Although every care is taken, side walkers participate in this activity at their own risk. We recommend that you have an up to date personal accident Insurance policy.
HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR RIDER
Wear comfortable clothes, and sturdy shoes. Please don’t wear anything flapping as this could either frighten the horse, or tempt a rider to grab it. Discreet jewellery and preferably no necklaces as these can easily be pulled.
The ideal side walker needs:
- Confidence, to encourage nervous and tense riders
- Alertness, despite outward calmness, and always to be able to anticipate the unexpected.
- To provide sympathy and encouragement. Avoid false sentimentality. It is important to understand disabled people and to appreciate their abilities.
- To be firm. Bad behaviour should not be tolerated.
- To be patient.
- To be able to give observant and constructive feedback to the instructor, where necessary.
The function of the side walker:
- Checking tack, length of stirrups and girth, before the rider mounts. Ask, if you don’t know.
- Check rider’s clothing and inform your coach of an ill-fitting hat.
- Side walkers are there to prevent the rider from falling off, NOT to hold them on. The flat of the hand can be placed on the riders’ back of their heel until the rider acquires confidence and balance.
- Only a very severely handicapped rider needs constant support. In these cases, the side walkers should change sides frequently during a session, to avoid muscle fatigue.
- They should interpret and reinforce the instructor’s commands where necessary, encouraging the nervous and restraining the over-confident, according to the circumstance.
- Side walkers can, by their proximity to and knowledge of their rider, spot signs of fatigue or discomfort not always apparent to the instructor, who will welcome the information.
- Side walkers should not feel guilty if a rider falls off. They may feel that they have failed in their duty. This may make them hesitant to return the following week, but their help is always needed.
- Any problems or queries must go through the instructor in charge of the ride.
- Gossip amongst themselves, thus neglecting the rider.
- Be inattentive and perhaps cause an accident.
- Use the rider’s belt or clothing to support them.
- Force the rider’s joints.
- Be over-protective, which prevents the rider from progressing.
Please make us aware of any conditions that may affect your performance as a side walker, such as diabetes/asthma/epilepsy. This will not preclude you, as a volunteer but will enable us to provide any necessary support. Discretion is assured.
If a volunteer is expecting an emergency call they should notify the coach, turn their phone onto vibrate or give their phone to a volunteer outside the arena.
Please Note:
Although every care is taken, side walkers participate in this activity at their own risk. We recommend that you have an up to date personal accident Insurance policy.
HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR RIDER
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