West Auckland RDA

GOOD in the HOOD is back!
Fuel up and give your token to support to West Auckland RDA at Z Energy in Henderson Valley Road, between Monday 26 August and Sunday 22 September. Our core purpose is to provide interaction with horses to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children with disabilities, or those with specific challenges or needs. Our aim is to enable and support riders to achieve good lives and provide meaningful participation. Riding is also an enjoyable form of exercise and an exciting, challenging, and motivating activity.

HORSE LEADERS WANTED: We are looking for volunteers with horse experience to join our team. Volunteering is fun and rewarding. By being involved you will learn new skills, stay fit, make a difference to someone’s life, and make new friends. You will lead horses during our RDA sessions and be part of horse care and training. Hours are one morning per week, 8am to 1pm, Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays. If you can help, please email [email protected]

Last week we were very excited to see the final testing and set up of the lights, security cameras and irrigation system for our new covered arena. A huge shout out to Mahurangi Electrical, Smart Water & Irrigation and Total Security for their support. Thank you all so much.

Thanks for your ongoing support Henderson-Massey Local Board 👏

Grant boosts facility development for West Auckland Riding for the Disabled The new covered arena at the West Auckland Riding for the Disabled Association will soon see an additional upgrade, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Henderson-Massey Local Board.

Happy Matariki to all our riders, supporters and volunteers 🐎

NZ volunteer week 16 to 22 June. We so appreciate all our dedicated volunteers.

Yesterday was a special day for us. After just 2 years since the sod turning for our new covered arena we held a small event to bless the building. This was carried out by our dear friend and local kaumatua Papa Fred Holloway. After President Norma Hayward welcomed everyone, Papa Fred performed a karakia. He and Norma then walked through the building to bless each space with everyone following. Getting to this stage has been a long process and is such a great milestone for us. We look forward to a formal opening ceremony and celebration to be held later this year.
Footnote - thanks to one of our valued volunteers Natalie for her great photos 📸

It was quite a wet day yesterday for our Monday riding group, but luckily there was a little bit of blue sky and sunshine for our riding games.

We thought these photos were worth sharing. One of our horse carers Samantha recently took Timon on a forest ride. He then stopped to admire the view. Muriwai Beach is in the distance.

Last week we held our AGM. We had a good turn out of committee members and volunteers. The current committee were re-elected unopposed. They are Norma Hayward (President), Pia Saxton (Vice President), Shirley Furneaux (Treasurer), Glynis Edmunds (Secretary) and committee; Erika Bouwmeester, Linda Graham, Sandra Lilo, Sharon Davies and Wendy Rapp. President Norma also took the opportunity to acknowledge a number of volunteers. Outstanding Service certificates were presented to volunteers Richard Cotterall (9 years) and Fiona Spencer (10 years). Life membership was presented to Glynis Edmunds and Linda Graham. We acknowledge and thank them all for their service to West Auckland RDA.

Our AGM is next Tuesday 14 May, 1pm at the Henderson Valley Pony Club, 201A Henderson Valley Rd, Henderson. Supporters and volunteers are welcome to attend.

Thanks so much to these generous volunteers who spent a recent Saturday putting together a flatpack kitchen for our new covered arena. Special thanks to Kitchen Cabinets and Stones in Henderson who supplied the units at a discounted price.

Our RDA group is still looking for someone on a voluntary basis to assist our volunteer Property team to keep our grounds in safe and good order. We look after approx. 12 acres of paddocks, trees, and streams. We also have horse riding areas and horse grazing. We are looking someone who is handy with tools as you may be asked to fix fences, mow with the tractor, do some chainsaw work or planting. Tools and equipment will be provided. You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness, enjoy outdoor work, have a full driver’s licence and be available for 2 to 4 hours a week, most likely a Tuesday or Friday. Please note everyone in our team is required to be police and reference checked. For more information, please email - [email protected] or call the office on (09) 838 9433.

A huge thank you to AA Carriers in Henderson for their help to move some equipment for us this morning. Shaun and Junior arrived early and were friendly and super helpful. We really appreciate their support! 🚚

Last week we were delighted to host Chris Carter (Chair) and Brenda Brady, Henderson Massey Local Board members who were excited to see progress being made to our covered arena. It's nearly there! Thank you Chris and Brenda and the rest of the Henderson-Massey Local Board for your ongoing encouragement and support with our project.

We are looking for a volunteer handy person to assist our Grounds & Property team to help keep our grounds in good order. We look after around 12 acres of paddocks, trees, and streams, where we have horse riding areas and horse grazing. You will need to be handy with tools as you may need to fix a fence, mow with the tractor, do chainsaw work or tree planting. All tools and equipment will be provided. Hours are approx. 2 to 4 hours one morning a week either on Tuesday or Friday. You'll need a full driver licence, a reasonable level of fitness and enjoy outdoor work. Everyone on our team needs to be police checked and reference checked. For more information, email [email protected] or phone (09) 838 9433.

We have sacks of horse poo available for pick up in Parker Road. Please call Debbie on 0274 962 087 to arrange. A koha would be appreciated and will go towards supporting the work we do at West Auckland RDA,

Introducing our new pony Jip. She was a star with our rider and volunteers at RDA this week. Many thanks to Jenna and Eva Hovelle from Ohakune for entrusting us their special pony.

Looking through a few of our photos today, which were taken at the end of Term 4 last year, we came across a couple of good ones. These photos show two of our riders; Joseph and Ivy receiving their rosettes at the end of 2023. We look forward to seeing these equestrian superstars again at the start of Term 1 in 2024.

Wishing all our riders, supporters and volunteers a Happy New Year. Here’s to 2024 🙏

Do you have or know of a horse or pony that is worth its weight in gold and would like to join a friendly team at West Auckland Riding for the Disabled. They will be required to do light riding duties while receiving expert care and attention. Horses are the very core of our operations, and their wellbeing is paramount to everything we do. All our horses benefit from regular farrier, dentist, physio, saddle fitting and vet care. If you have a suitable horse/pony that could join our well managed herd we would love to hear from you. We are looking to lease or buy. To discuss please contact Linda who is part of our Horse Committee on 021 254 9709 or email [email protected]

The team at West Auckland RDA wishes you all a safe and happy Christmas and holiday season. All the best for 2024.

Yesterday was our End of Year volunteer thank you lunch. At this occasion we take the opportunity to present the Olivia Wilkins Memorial Trophy to our Supporter of the Year. This year we presented the award to Linda Cooper, President of the Waitakere Licencing Trust. She is very community minded and has been very supportive of the work we do. Thank you very much Linda. We appreciate your support!

Christmas games made therapy activities especially fun on the last riding day of the year yesterday. Posting something to Santa, it seems!

Unfortunately, we lost our existing outpost horse shelter in Cyclone Gabrielle. It was washed away by the floods and broken up. We replaced it with another outpost shelter and were fortunate to get help from a team of construction students from Unitec. They helped put it together under the supervision their fabulous tutor Angus Robertson. These 3 students are working towards their New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills. We are grateful for their support and our horses will be very pleased to have their shelter back. Many thanks guys! From left is Abrahim Mougari, Malina Opo, Norma & Shirley (RDA volunteers) and Jireh Ngauru.

Four super sporting facilities getting a well-deserved upgrade Grassroots sporting organisations are the good-vibes glue that bring communities together.

We are indebted to Coresteel Buildings for their support with this project, which has been a long time vision for West Auckland RDA. We can't wait for the arena to open! 👏

Our RDA group is still on the look out for horses or ponies for our therapeutic horse riding sessions we run for children with a variety of physical and developmental challenges. The wellbeing of our horses is top priority and they receive expert care. They will also be ridden by an able bodied rider as part of our Pony Care scheme. If you have or know someone else who has a suitable horse or pony we'd love to hear from you. Please contact Linda on 021 254 9709 to discuss.