NZRDA Children's Storybook

This is a story about one of our RDA Riders from Christchurch RDA, Danielle.  This is what RDA is all about, and exactly the reason why we're creating the NZRDA Children's Educational Storybook - so we can continue to help Riders like Danielle and the 3,200+ other children and adults who attend RDA Riding Sessions each year. 

Danielle Beckley, 7, rides every Friday at  Christchurch Group Riding for the Disabled.  This is her second time being  part of a Riding Programme, and she looks forward to her time at the RDA arena  with her favourite Horse, Blokey.
Danielle suffers from Selective Mutism, a complex childhood anxiety disorder  characterized by a child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in  select social settings. 

Children with Selective Mutism are typically able to speak and communicate in  settings where they are comfortable, secure, and relaxed – but just like people  who have a fear of heights or spiders, selectively mute children have a fear of  speaking and of social interactions where there is an expectation to speak and  communicate.

This disorder is quite debilitating and painful to the child, but in Danielle’s  case she is managing her condition - thanks in great part to her therapeutic  riding sessions at Christchurch RDA.

Danielle’s mother, Sonya, says that she has seen her daughter’s confidence and  social skills grow this year while working with RDA Volunteer Michael Wyrt.

“Michael has done some wonderful work with Danielle this year as her  Leader – he has tasked Danielle with the grooming, saddle and bridle  preparation of the Horse prior to the riding session, which has really helped  bring her out of her shell.

His enthusiasm and ‘holistic’ approach to Danielle’s therapy sessions means  that she is noticeably more calm and confident in situations where she  previously wouldn’t have been.”

Danielle’s RDA Coach, Jayne Findlay, says that when Danielle first came to  Christchurch RDA she was unable to speak to any of the Volunteers.

“Although extremely shy, Danielle was obviously eager and excited to  ride, but could not vocalise this – instead she would avoid eye contact and  communicate to us by nodding and pointing.”

After several sessions, Jayne had a breakthrough with Danielle when she came up  with a novel idea to encourage her to speak – on Danielle’s terms.

“She would not say ‘walk on’, or anything else, to her Horse, but  eventually I convinced her to whisper ‘walk on’ to me, which I would then then  say to the Horse.  The first time she whispered in my ear I literally had  goosebumps – it was very emotional” says Jayne.

Fast forward to today, and Danielle has made great strides in her verbal  communication.  She will now clearly say ‘walk on’ and other commands to  her Horse, as well as talk to Michael, Jayne and the other Volunteers.

Jayne says that Danielle is a ‘delightful child’ to work with, and looks  forward to seeing her continue to grow into a confident and self-assured  person.

Hi everyone!

Dustys and Lulu have been busy working on the illustrations for the NZRDA Children's Educational Storybook, and they're just finished one of the key characters - the Clydesdale.

This RDA Horse, who we'll call 'Clyde' for now, is knowledgeable, dependable and a hard worker.  As one of the older Horses at the RDA arena, he's been around the block a few times, and he often provides assistance to the other Horses too.  Clyde loves helping both child and adult Riders, and because he's big and strong he can effortless take them for rides around the arena and even on the nearby horse trail.