Dear RDA UK volunteers and staff,

I hope everyone got to see a bit of Horse of the Year Show last weekend. There were some fantastic events from Double Harness Scurry Driving (in which one of the competitors was 85 years old!) to Speed Horse of the Year (48.12 seconds!). Our corporate partners Posh Muckerz had a stall there and were donating a percentage of their sales of their coveralls to RDA UK.

 

Princess Royal Celebrates 50 Years with RDA

A reminder that we are creating a timeline of pictures of the Princess’ 50 years service with the RDA in 50 pictures. If you have any images of the Princess Royal you would like to share, particularly ones from her early years with RDA, please send them to me by the 25 October to bfalcini@rda.org.uk. Thank you to those who have already contributed to this.

We would also like to celebrate this milestone by collecting photos and messages of thanks from RDA members across the organisation, which we will put into a slideshow for The Princess. Everyone can contribute so do please write a short message and accompanying image if you wish. Again, please send these to me (bfalcini@rda.org.uk) by the 25th.

 

AGM 

The RDA AGM will take place on the 5 Novemberat the RDA National Training Centre. This will be held as a hybrid meeting, and we are encouraging groups to vote by proxy through their Regional Chairs and join the meeting by Zoom if they wish.

If you would also like to join by Zoom, please email Amanda Perkins aperkins@rda.org.uk for the registration details.

 

30-minute webinars

This week: Guide Dogs for the Blind: 7pm Thursday 12 October

Our first webinar is Thursday at 7pm, coinciding with World Sight Loss Day. We are delighted to welcome a representative from The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to talk about the services Guide Dogs provide for adults and children with sight loss, as well as a bit about them as an organisation and their dogs.

Register as usual at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xoAW1F0YSxG3afap4ulXpg  

Next week: 20 October, Duke of Edinburgh Award

Jade Herriott from Duke of Edinburgh Award will talk about supporting DofE volunteers. If you have any questions you would like to submit for this webinar, please contact Faye (fmckenning@rda.org.uk) by Monday 22nd October.

For this webinar, register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0ze23ItgRA6iZ4u7gEAIjg  

 

Duke of Edinburgh Volunteers

We are encouraging groups who have DofE volunteers to complete the following survey. Deadline 9am on Monday 8 November.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RDADofEAutumn21  

 

RDA Dressage Lead

If you wish to contact the RDA Dressage Lead, Sarah-Jane Prew please use the mobile number or email address which are on the MyRDA website and not the landline number in the Handbook:www.myrda.org.uk/runningyourgroup/dressage/

 

Dressage Anywhere RDA Championships

After a long delay due to Covid, Dressage Anywhere are bringing back their RDA Championships. Qualifiers start in November running through until March 2022. To qualify, riders need one score of 60% or above. 

There are fourteen classes to choose from including graded classes, ungraded classes, TVI/PVI and ID. Grades 1-6 Walk, Walk & Trot and Walk, Trot, Canter has been added to Dressage Anywhere along with TVI/PVI Walk Only. Entries will open for the Championships in April with judging taking place in May.

To see all the RDA classes available, please go here: www.dressageanywhere.com/Competitor/EnterCompetition/733

 

Discounted Worming and Testing from Westgate Labs

Don’t forget RDA groups can benefit from discount on targeted worming and testing from Westgate Labs. For more info see their website:www.westgatelabs.co.uk/

 

JustGiving Webinar

A reminder that on Thursday we have the a webinar from JustGiving. The webinar will be 30-45 minutes and will share information about the JustGiving options for RDA Groups. This will include information about how JustGiving works, what it can do, costs and an opportunity for some questions. The webinar is suitable for all Groups but may be of particular interest to those who are wondering what platform to use once Virgin Money Giving closes, as well as those Groups who have not yet ventured into online giving platforms. 

The webinar will take place on Thursday 14 October at 11.30am.

To register for the webinar please follow this link,https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YZXDLkMJQyafPb1sL6nSUQ  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. For those unable to attend, information will be shared following the webinar. We do hope you will be able to join us.

RDA Safeguarding Certificates:

If you have attended an RDA Safeguarding Workshop in the last month or are about to undertake one, we apologise but your certificate will take longer than usual to reach you. We are currently having issues with our suppliers and are waiting for new stock to be delivered. If you need confirmation of attendance in the meantime for coaching appraisals, please contact Laura at the National Office:  lcartwright@rda.org.uk

 

Best wishes,

Brigitta Falcini

Communications Coordinator

Riding for the Disabled Association