Riding high: Matthew Antonelli enjoys a ride at Riding for the Disabled Barwon Centre with leader Mary Grieve and side-walkers Warren Brown and Madeleine Fenwick.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A CHARITY using horse riding to help Geelong children with disabilities is “desperately” seeking volunteers to cope with a doubling in demand, according to members.
They said Riding for the Disabled Barwon Centre had 50 enrolments this year, requiring the organisation to expand operations to a second day each week.
Secretary Genni Briese said the ongoing success of the centre’s programs meant it was now 10 volunteers short.
“We have two sessions on Fridays but we need to start sessions on a Thursday as well.”
Mrs Briese said Riding for the Disabled had operated in Geelong for 37 years, providing therapeutic horse-related activities for children with disabilities.
The centre was willing to talk with anyone interested in helping, she said
“We operate from the Koombahla Park Equestrian Centre in Wallington. Horse experience is a bonus but not essential.
“The volunteer is expected to follow the coach’s instructions and, depending on the child’s disability, will either lead the horse or be a side-walker.”
Australia has 132 Riding for the Disabled Associations. The not-for-profit organisation has associations with Equestrian Federation of Australia, the pony club movement, Australian Paralympic Federation and Delta SocietyAustralia.
Mrs Briese said the Barwon centre would run a volunteer training day at Koombahla Park on Friday February 17.
She asked anyone interested in volunteering to phone her on 0438 085 045.
