GALLERY: SARDA invites volunteers to saddle up

Every morning, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12pm pupils with varying abilities come to South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA) to experience equine therapy. Each pony has a leader – someone who leads the pony around the arena – and listens to the instructor. Depending on the disability of the rider, there may be one or even two walkers alongside them, ensuring they maintain their balance.

Volunteers don’t get paid and schools attend the therapy sessions for free. The school runs entirely on fundraising.

Nicole Christie, SARDA Gauteng branch secretary said, “We never have enough volunteers; we’re always looking for more, especially on certain days.” Christie said it’s a good idea to come through to the school and see on which days extra help is needed. In terms of the Constitution, all the volunteers have to be over the age of 16 to work with the children and the horses, and they are also screened because they need to be mature and handle certain situations, particularly if they’re still in school.

As for the type of people required, SARDA is looking for caring, willing people and good leaders for the horses; they need a strong personality. If children are throwing a tantrum on horseback, the horses need someone who can keep them calm.

Volunteers need to be dedicated. Christie said, “Volunteers need to commit to a certain amount of time every week. We invite volunteers to start with one session first but ideally we need volunteers to commit to one full morning a week if possible.”

Christie commended the volunteers SARDA currently has and said, “A lot of our volunteers go above and beyond by helping organise events and even hosting events to help us raise funds. Between myself and Julia [Gouws, SARDA fundraiser], we’re quite understaffed and the committee can only do so much as they’re also a volunteer committee. So every every little bit helps.”

Details: SARDA 011 958 7999.