CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the new and improved Northern Ireland region Riding for the Disabled association website. We hope that this site will be a great source of information for those who are already involved in the charity as well as those who are keen to join in the future. For groups who would like to have information appear on the website please contact our Regional Publicity Officer whose details appear in the contacts list.
As many of you know 2008-2009 was an exciting year for the charity as we continued to grow in size and influence. The work on the new purpose built arena at Coleraine is moving along well and we hope that it will be completed in the next month. Public viewing days will be taking place soon after so keep an eye out for these if you are in the area.
We also saw our Chairman Jill Lindsay retire after 7 years of loyal dedication in the position. Jill was responsible for overseeing the regional 40th Anniversary celebrations when Northern Ireland held a 2 day RDA national conference and incorporated a riding demonstration at Laurelview stud in Templepatrick. Having our President Princess Anne attend this event was a major boost for the charity and we look forward to welcoming her back in the future.
As we move out of 2008-2009 and embark on the next year there are many things to look forward to in the coming months. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all groups to take part in the "Worlds Biggest Riding Lesson" in order to celebrate the Riding for the Disabled's national 40th birthday as we will be hoping for a place in the Guinness Book of Records. In the spring time we will also be hosting a North/South conference with RDA Ireland.
As your new chairman I am looking forward to visiting all of the groups when we resume riding in September. I am hoping to take the Riding for the Disabled NI forward and would love to increase the numbers of riders and volunteers in our organisation. I would especially like to welcome members of the equestrian community in NI . Currently there is also a shortage of physiotherapists in the organisation and it would be great to hear from any of them who might have a few hours each week.
Julie Jordan
Chairman of the Riding for the Disabled Northern Ireland
Riding for the Disabled Charity Number 244108
Company Limited by Guarantee No. 5010395
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