We have a vacancy for a riding session for a group of six children or young people with learning or physical disabilities from a local school. There is a small charge for each session. Please contact us through our contact page in the first instance and we will get back to you to discuss further.
Kevin Escott, Captain of Lingfield Park Golf Club has kindly decided to choose East Park RDA as his chosen Captain’s Charity. This will be until the end of Season 2025. All fines (i.e. going into certain bunkers and not getting over the ditch on the first) will be donated, plus on July 26th 2025 there is the Captain’s Charity Day and all monies from this will also be donated to East Park RDA. Thank you Kevin.
Although we have not had any riding sessions since last March, our ponies still need to be cared for and we are very grateful that our many generous friends have not forgotten us. The Sussex Wanderers MG Car Club have donated £1,400, East Grinstead Lions £300 and numerous other private donations total £4,377. This kindness will help us to keep our ponies fed, watered and exercised until we can start riding again. We hope this might be after Easter, for at least one school which can come as a bubble, and are keeping our fingers crossed.
Thursday 23rd January saw Sally (accompanied by Liquorice & Sparky ) presented with a cheque for £1,500 on behalf of Greenstede Lodge of Sussex Masons, part of The Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex In the United Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England. Sussex Freemasonry work endlessly to encourage opportunity, promote independence and improve the well being for disadvantaged and vulnerable people throughout the whole UK. As well as individuals, they support hundreds of charities across England & Wales. Their grants fund a range of projects for later life & early years, as well as hospices & medical research. We are very grateful for their generous donation.
In December the St Silvans Area Charity were made aware that a local school they have helped in the past bring 12 children riding each week with East Park. Some of these children have high sensory needs and it was felt they could benefit from riding bareback but it needed to be as safe an experience as possible. Following some research by Lysa, who coaches the group, a solution was found – The Total Contact Saddle. The saddle was designed to give the closest possible contact with the horse whilst keeping the security of stirrups. The minimalist design strips away unnecessary padding, tree, cantle and pommel to deliver direct communication between horse and rider. The rider can now really feel the horse which is exactly the point for our pupils. The charity sprang into action and despite Christmas and the New Year getting in the way, ordered the saddle which arrived in time for the new term. The pupils were very excited to welcome Judy Whittaker and Alan Fyfe from the charity to their weekly lesson where the saddle was presented to Annie China-O’Neill.
