Farewell Flynn, forever in our hearts ❤️
We are heartbroken to share the sudden passing of wonderful Flynn. His loss will be felt deeply by everyone who loved him as much as we did. A cherished member of our RDA family, Flynn gave us many years of loyal service. While we always wish we could hold onto our beloved horses forever, we take comfort in knowing that the unconditional love they give stays in our hearts always. Our grateful thanks go to … Continue reading →
Celebrations to wrap up half term
Despite the stormy weather outside this week, our cosy indoor arena was filled with warmth and laughter as we celebrated the inspiring efforts of our riders! Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers this term. All helped by the magic makers, the horses and their wonderfully supportive owners, who make it all possible. Wishing every single one of you a happy and peaceful holiday. We already can’t wait to return to continue sharing the magic … Continue reading →
The magic of sunny autumn rides!
Well done to our riders this week and thank you to our volunteers and equine team. We are very grateful to have such rock solid, dependable horses by our side. Nothing beats the magic of sunny autumn rides on the Downs – nature has a beautiful way of bringing balance and that’s perfect for any rider!
Continue reading →Sun smiles for our first sessions 🌞
This week even the weather decided to smile down on us, having our sessions without melting in the sun or drowning in a downpour was perfect! Well done to our riders and thank you to the volunteers for making our return a brilliant one. Of course, the biggest thank you of all goes to the horses. They proved once again they have the most reliable hooves in … Continue reading →
Back in the saddle & ready to ride!
The time has come to dust off those riding hats! As we swap our airy sandals for boots, we are looking forward to getting back to doing what we love. We can’t wait to catch up with all our returning riders and give a huge, warm welcome to anyone joining our stable for the first time. Hands up, who else is excited for the new term? We know we are!
Continue reading →A massive thank you to Enjoolata
Autumn is off to a magical start, and it’s all thanks to the Enjoolata Foundation. We are very grateful to receive their generous grant, which means the world to our entire team, both humans and horses alike. This support makes a difference in helping us continue creating special RDA moments for everyone. Thank you Enjoolata. You haven’t just made our day or our month, you’ve made our whole year!
Continue reading →Double the joy!
This summer LFRDA has grown a little bigger and a lot cuter! We’re overjoyed to share that two of our wonderful volunteers have welcomed baby girls. Congratulations to Steph on the arrival of Eloise Mary, born on 14 July 2026, and to Kate on the arrival of Ruby Christina born on 10 August 2026. We are sending both families all our love. We are counting down the days until their first stable visits and can’t … Continue reading →
Happy holidays to all our friends!
Our amazing four-legged pals are having a wonderful time out in the fields, enjoying plenty of fun, freedom and friendship during their RDA break. As always, they are receiving the best possible care and lots of love every single day. After such a hot summer it’s good to see the grass finally turning green again. We are already counting down the days until we reunite with our wonderful herd for the start of … Continue reading →
In loving memory of Denise
In Loving Memory of Denise LFRDA Volunteer & Trustee (2015 – 2026) It is with heavy hearts that we share that our friend and volunteer, Denise, passed away on 16 August 2026. Denise’s time with us began when she answered an advert in a magazine looking for helpers for a new adult RDA group. After attending our open morning, she knew instantly she wanted to join us. Her natural passion and commitment shone through and within six … Continue reading →
A wonderful summer term is complete!
That’s an official wrap on our summer term. It has been everything we hoped for and so much more! This week brought the perfect end of term spirit to our sessions, which were scorching in more ways than one! Every rider completed a course, which turned into a brilliant, laughter filled mix of a slalom meets handy pony challenge. The riders were justly rewarded with gorgeous rosettes crafted by Rachel’s Rosettes. These awards celebrate their … Continue reading →
Sunshine, horses and flying visitors!
August started in a wonderful way bringing us sunshine, laughter, and some very special guests. While looking out over the Downs, we watched Red Kites gliding high in the distance. A helper shared that these clever birds can build very messy nests with strange treasures like clothes, sunglasses, and toys. We are definitely going to watch our favourite arena toys very closely from now on! 😀 Sharing these happy moments with our precious horses reminds … Continue reading →
Cancellation now, double cuddles next week!
We all love a bit of sunshine, but with temperatures soaring again we are cancelling our lessons this week. We know how disappointing this is, but the safety and wellbeing of our riders, volunteers and precious horses always comes first. The great news is that cooler weather is on the way for next week. We are already looking forward to seeing you for our usual sessions and making up for lost time with double … Continue reading →
Hickstead magic strikes again!
What an unforgettable return to Hickstead with complimentary tickets, stunning weather and thrilling arena action that matched the magic of our June visit. Everything was perfect from the seamless organisation to the top-class horses and ponies, highlighted by Robert Whitaker and Vermento winning the Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup for a record-equalling third time. We are incredibly lucky to have Hickstead right on our doorstep, we are already counting down to 2027! A … Continue reading →
New First Aid skills for the team!
Congratulations to Louise, Jenny and Val for passing their Emergency First Aid at Work course. The team enjoyed refreshing their skills and catching up with both familiar friends and new faces from across the region. Sincere thanks go to the South-East Region for organising such a great day, and to the trainer Lee, for delivering an engaging course perfectly tailored to the RDA world. We are incredibly grateful to all our first aiders for everything … Continue reading →
Equine stars under South Downs sun
What a wonderful week here! The heatwave cleared for our sessions leaving us with warm sunshine and a gentle South Downs breeze – perfect riding weather. Well done to our riders, and thank you to our tireless helpers and horses. Our equine team constantly prove to be the best therapists around, patient, loving and asking for very little in return… well, aside from a few well deserved hugs, of course!
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