RDA group benefits from facilities

It has excellent facilities, having moved from the vagaries of the weather in outdoor facilities to an indoor school with a synthetic all-weather surface at Brinsbury.

The group moved to Brinsbury from Upper Beeding in September 2007.

Main riders with the group are from Hillside School, based at Portslade, in East Sussex, so it covers a wide area.

Organiser Vernon Roper said: “Hillside School have remained with us from our Upper Beeding days so there is a historical reason for our association with them. Our other riders, including Debbie and Karen, who performed well at the recent regional championships at Hickstead, are from the West Sussex area.

“We have plenty of equipment at present, but are always in need of more helpers. We are always on the lookout for new volunteers, who are fit and able and can run with a horse, while the children go into a trot.”

At present the group rides at Brinsbury College, with the first session open to individual riders like Karen and Debbie, and the following two sessions with Hillside School.

When the Hickstead Showground recently played host to the south-east region of the Riding For The Disabled Association there were different levels of competition in each of the three arenas where both adults and children rode in the same class.

The South Downs Group was ably represented by Karen Madcraft riding Sooty, and Debbie Calnon riding Major, who came first and second respectively in their class.

Anyone who would like to be a helper should contact Vernon on [email protected]