After a two-year hiatus, riders will saddle up with the Lockyer Valley Riding for the Disabled resuming classes

The club’s president is all too familiar with how horse therapy can improve the quality of life.

Lockyer Valley Riding for the Disabled president Terry Dingle with club horse Thumper. PHOTO: Ali Kuchel

For the past two years, the Lockyer Riding for the Disabled horses have been without riders.

There’s been no classes, no special rides, just horses eating grass.

But that will change next month with the LVRDA re-gaining accreditation after the head coach suffered an unfortunate accident away from the centre and coronavirus – forced its closure.

Club president Terry Dingle will welcome a small cohort of riders to the grounds in May 9 for sign-on day, but is hopeful to return to full strength later in the year.

It’s been months of hard work preparing the grounds, maintaining fences and of course, looking after the horses.

“Riding for the disabled not only helps the riders, but we’ve had other volunteers where it has helped them personally to get through traumas,” Terry said.

Lockyer Valley Riding for the Disabled president Terry Dingle. PHOTO: Ali Kuchel

“We’ve had clients start here that have never been on a horse before that have gone on to compete in state and national competitions.

“Being able to ride a horse isn’t a prerequisite to being a client or a volunteer.”

Terry knows only too well how therapeutic being around the horses and helping riders with disabilities can be.

He initially became involved with LVRDA when his son Josh started as a rider not long after the club’s inception in 2015.

But later, he was able to focus on himself.

Several years ago, he was involved in a head-on truck accident, and suffered PTSD.

“I was having all sorts of problems and flashbacks and generally not being able to settle to get enough rest to get over everything,” Terry said.

“Spending time with the horses and riding was great therapy. It was as good if not better than what the doctors could give me.”

Terry has seen the same confidence in riders and volunteers, and said it was rewarding seeing the clients learn new skills, as well as the carers having a break.

Lockyer Valley Riding for the Disabled president Terry Dingle with club horse Thumper. PHOTO: Ali Kuchel

“I enjoy spending time with the horses and being able to help the riders and see a smile on their face and improvements in themselves,” he said.

The club’s committee has plans to become less dependent on the weather as well as fencing more paddocks at their Regency Downs in a bid to be less reliant on sourcing external feed.

They’re also on the lookout for anyone who wants to volunteer – and the bonus – you don’t need to know anything about horses to lend a hand.

Anyone wanting to inquire about joining or becoming a volunteer can contact membership co-ordinator Bobbi Dingle on 0423 374 646.

You can visit the club’s Facebook page here.

https://www.facebook.com/lvrda2015

here.