CONGRATULATIONS to five of our Saturday morning riders!   Judith Taylor, Gabby Dabbagh, George Wheyway, Olivia Carter and Hayley Tallantire have all passed their RDA Grade 3 Proficiency Test in Riding and Horse Care.  Well Done!

RDA/PONY CLUB EVENT

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of RDA in the UK, and also the 80th anniversary of the Pony Club, Gaddesden Place RDA and nearby Flamstead Pony Club organised a joint event on 5th July 2009.  It was a huge success and you can see lots more about it in the Photo Album

St.JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, GREAT GADDESDEN

We are proud of our friendly relationships with our neighbours in the local Gaddesden community. 

Here is the new kneeler which was commissioned by Friends of Gaddesden Place RDA for St.John the Baptist Church in Great Gaddesden.  The kneeler was worked by Betty Dunbar who is 92 and lives in Gaddesden Row. It is dedicated to the memory of our founder Trina Hall.   

...and our new temporary garden features.

The ramp was installed during the 2008 summer holiday to give us time to train ponies and helpers to use it prior to riders starting the new term.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed including CHILDREN IN NEED, TESCO, DUNSTABLE ROUND TABLE and those who attended last year's fundraising ball,

MIKE PENNING MP VISITS US

On 1st November 2008 Mike Penning, Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead, visited Gaddesden Place RDA centre.  Mike was particularly interested to see our new hydraulic ramp (see below).

HERTS SPORTS PARTNERSHIP

SERVICE TO SPORT AWARD

On 8th October 2008 at Herts University in Hatfield we were presented with 2nd place in the Paul Pearce Award for Contribution to Disability Sport.

Another award for us all to be proud of!

"OUR EQUINE HEROES"

HEATHER WAGNER has painted a beautiful series of portraits of our ponies.  They were exhibited at Gallery One Eleven in Berkhamsted, and the exhibition raised £700 for Gaddesden RDA.

We have also reproduced these wonderful paintings as blank note cards - you can use them for Birthdays, Christmas, Thank-yous, etc.

You can buy them at Gaddesden, or go to our Fundraising page.

The sale proceeds will of course go  to Gaddesden RDA funds.

DATES for your DIARY - 2009

Tuesday 17th Feb               ASDAN Training day at South Bucks RDA                                          

Friday 13th March              Clywyd dressage judges training day

Sunday 29th March             Gaddesden Dressage Qualifier Competition

                                          at Gaddesden indoor school

Sunday 10th May                Oaklands Regional RDA Competition at St. Albans.

Sat 11th & Sun 12th July      RDA National Championships at Hartpury College 

                                          (theme for the disco this year is electric blue!)     

Sat 6th June                       Quiz Nite at Potten End Village Hall 

Sunday 5th July                  Pony Club / RDA games at Flamstead Pony Club showground

                                          9:30 - 4:00pm. 

                                          25 teams consisting of one Pony Club and one RDA rider.

                                          Both riders will do a dressage test.

                                          Pony Club riders will do a showjumping round.

                                          RDA riders will do a Handy Pony class.

                                          (Part of RDA 40th Anniversary celebrations)         

Thurs 3rd September          Helper training day 10am - 12noon        

Sat 5th September              Helper training day 1pm - 3pm

                                          All helpers need to attend one of these training days

AUTUMN TERM will be Tues 8th September to Sat 24th October inclusive (half term to 30th Oct)

and Tues 3rd Nov to Fri 18th Dec.

Wed 30th September           World's Biggest Riding Lesson

                                           (Part of RDA 40th Anniversary celebrations)

Saturday 17th October        RDA 40th Anniversary Ruby Picnic Ball at the Cloisters Ballroom

                                           Whipsnade Zoo with band The Dark Blues

                                           Phone Lizzy Roberts on 01727 761898 to reserve your table

Sunday 29th November        Christmas Party at Gaddesden indoor school