First work of the day completed and it’s time for a welcome cuppa and a chat about the day in the warm club room (built for RDA functions and opened by Princess Anne, who is President of RDA, in 2005). Client’s and carers start ringing to book their space on today’s session.
Back out into the cold, the 3 ponies need grooming. Bob arrives to help with the carriages and other volunteers start to arrive. The carriages which are specially adapted to hold wheelchairs, are wheeled out of the barn and the ponies are harnessed up. All 3 ponies have Long Service RDA Award brasses on their bridles.
Two or three sessions are run each week on a Wednesday and Thursday for client’s to book onto. Those that come have a variety of disabilities, some are ambulant others in wheelchairs. Many have profound disabilities, some with very limited communication abilities but the pleasure they get from their weekly carriage driving trip is radiantly apparent by the smiles on their faces.
Safety is of paramount importance and all ponies, carriages and drivers have to be assessed by an RDA assessor before being able to take client’s out. Wheelchairs are clamped to the carriages so they cannot move and lap belts worn. As well as the driver (who are all volunteers who have passed the carriage driving coach exam) another volunteer travels on the rear of each carriage for added safety.
It’s now 11am and time for the first trip out. We drive through the village of Willoughby Waterleys and return, a trip of about 30 minutes, a safety car following us. Whilst the drive is out the carers stay behind to chat and have coffee with those left at the yard, it gives them a brief reprieve and support from their caring duties.
After the second trip out has returned it’s time to take the harness off the ponies, put their rugs back on and give them some well-deserved hay. In the summer when they come back hot and sweaty they are treated to a refreshing shower.
RDA sessions are over for the day but work on the yard is still to be done. Harness to clean, beds to be laid down and water buckets filled ready for when the ponies in the field come in later in the day.
Springbridge is run by Linda, Dennis, Jane and Bob who have been friends for over 50 years. Looking after horses, ponies and the land is a 365 days a year job, regardless of the weather and the foursome have been doing this tirelessly for 30 years. They decided to start the RDA carriage driving when another Centre was closing down in 2003. They are the only centre in Leicestershire running carriage driving for the disabled. Springbridge receives no money from the RDA so is funded by donations and fundraising events, the main ones being the Fun Dog Show in the summer and the fantastic Santa Day before Christmas, both brilliantly attended.
Springbridge has a wide and vast extended family of supporters, many just dropping by for a chat and cuppa on a daily basis, which is reflective of the warm welcome always received when visiting and the welcoming ambiance of the yard with it’s colourful pots and hanging baskets throughout the year.
Being involved with life at Springbridge has truly enhanced my life as I know it has for many others.
