St Andrews RDA Information for Parents, Carers, and Prospective Riders
Welcome to our St Andrews Accessible Riding (STAR) program and thank you for choosing us. Here is some information you will find useful.
Contact details:
Mobile phone: 0418 521 048
Address: 180 Pony Club Grounds, Clintons Road, Smiths Gully.
Postal address: c/o PO Box 218 Panton Hill Victoria 3759
Operating hours: We operate on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during school term times. Monday sessions start at 2.30 pm. Tuesdays at 9.30 and Thursdays at 10.
The team: Riders work with a team, which includes the horse, a session leader, a horse handler and one or two side-walkers where required. The team operates under the supervision of the RDA coach.s
The team: Riders work with a team, which includes the horse, a session leader, a horse handler and one or two side-walkers where required. The team operates under the supervision of the RDA coach.s
Our RDA Level 1 Coaches: Hazel Fox, Maggie Broom (RDA St Andrews President), Anjie Grisold
Session routine: There is a brief check-in of 5 – 10 minutes where we discuss the rider’s goals for the session, then approximately 30 minutes with the horse, followed by 5 – 10 minutes debrief at the end. These timings give you the opportunity to discuss the rider’s progress with coaches and session leaders, with some extra time for changeover and records.
Sessions are designed for the rider to spend around 30 minutes with the team. This may not always involve riding. While mounted work is a key feature of our sessions, the work we do also involves ground work with the horse, grooming, massaging, unmounted games, exercises and activities designed to assist with mounted work, physical development and communication.
Introducing the routine: When a new rider is introduced to the program it is often helpful for parents and carers to assist with the transition to the program routine. Parents entering the arena with their child must complete a Volunteer Application Form and Stage 1 and 2 training units.
As the rider gains in confidence and becomes comfortable with the program, we ask parents and carers to step back and enjoy observing the sessions. There is seating near to the entrance gate.
Safety and siblings: Please keep clear of the gate entrance when horses and riders are moving in and out. We ask that you ensure that siblings are kept safe and well clear of the horse area. They are welcome to play out on the grassy area between the arena and the club house or stay close to parents. Dogs, guide dogs excepted, are not allowed on the grounds.
Feeding the horses: Our horses are trained as therapy horses and are not expected to ask for food from the hand. For this reason we ask that you do not give treats to the horses, but feel free to ask if you would like to add your apples or carrots to their feed buckets at feed time.
Weather and clothing: We do not operate on days of Total Fire Ban. We may cancel sessions on days when the temperature is forecast to exceed 30 degrees, so be prepared for a weather-check early in the day. We do not usually cancel for rain – we have many wet-weather activities and a warm club-house. Please make sure you and your rider are suitably dressed for the forecast weather. For all sessions please bring your rider in long pants and long sleeves, with flat, closed-toe, sturdy shoes. Pony tails need to be low so that helmets can fit snugly.
Payments and cancellations: We ask that you pay a term’s fees in advance (eg $180 for a 9-week term at $20 per session). Please let us know if you have to cancel for any reason. We are happy to offer a make-up session at a later date if we have plenty of notice. RDAV annual registration ($145 – see separate RDAV application form) must be completed before attending a session.
Sessions are designed for the rider to spend around 30 minutes with the team. This may not always involve riding. While mounted work is a key feature of our sessions, the work we do also involves ground work with the horse, grooming, massaging, unmounted games, exercises and activities designed to assist with mounted work, physical development and communication.
Introducing the routine: When a new rider is introduced to the program it is often helpful for parents and carers to assist with the transition to the program routine. Parents entering the arena with their child must complete a Volunteer Application Form and Stage 1 and 2 training units.
As the rider gains in confidence and becomes comfortable with the program, we ask parents and carers to step back and enjoy observing the sessions. There is seating near to the entrance gate.
Safety and siblings: Please keep clear of the gate entrance when horses and riders are moving in and out. We ask that you ensure that siblings are kept safe and well clear of the horse area. They are welcome to play out on the grassy area between the arena and the club house or stay close to parents. Dogs, guide dogs excepted, are not allowed on the grounds.
Feeding the horses: Our horses are trained as therapy horses and are not expected to ask for food from the hand. For this reason we ask that you do not give treats to the horses, but feel free to ask if you would like to add your apples or carrots to their feed buckets at feed time.
Weather and clothing: We do not operate on days of Total Fire Ban. We may cancel sessions on days when the temperature is forecast to exceed 30 degrees, so be prepared for a weather-check early in the day. We do not usually cancel for rain – we have many wet-weather activities and a warm club-house. Please make sure you and your rider are suitably dressed for the forecast weather. For all sessions please bring your rider in long pants and long sleeves, with flat, closed-toe, sturdy shoes. Pony tails need to be low so that helmets can fit snugly.
Payments and cancellations: We ask that you pay a term’s fees in advance (eg $180 for a 9-week term at $20 per session). Please let us know if you have to cancel for any reason. We are happy to offer a make-up session at a later date if we have plenty of notice. RDAV annual registration ($145 – see separate RDAV application form) must be completed before attending a session.
Mounting procedures are closely monitored for safety
Here a rider is getting used to the feel of mounting the horse from a ramp, visible to the horse's left. One volunteer is holding the horse, keeping it still, comfortable and standing square. Two other volunteers, one on either side, assist the rider to put her hands in the correct position for mounting. The rider is wearing an approved riding helmet. The horse is wearing a bareback pad, a neck strap for safety and a headcollar for control. |