Roving coach to boost riding skills

Riding for the Disabled Coach Sharon Aldersley is saddling up for her role as Roving Coach. This year she will share her expertise with 20 Riding for the Disabled groups throughout the country, thanks to a grant from the IHC Foundation.

The IHC Foundation has contributed $50,000 to fund one year of visits, and this will be matched for a second year by New Zealand Riding for the Disabled (NZRDA). By the end of two years, Sharon will have visited around 50 groups and been in contact with more than 1000 riders.

“The groups have been asking for hands-on training specific to their riders and their ride teams for a while now,” says NZRDA Chief Executive Donna Kennedy. Donna says Sharon, a trained physiotherapist and qualified NZRDA coach, has been working with the Tauranga RDA since 2009.

The national organisation has already drawn on her expertise as a national coach with some funding from Sport New Zealand to pilot the initial concept. The IHC Foundation funding will see the role fully rolled out across the country.

Sharon will tailor her coaching to what each group needs, and she will be working mainly with the organisations’ coaches, many of whom are newer coaches who are working through their NZRDA coaching qualifications.

“What they really miss is someone hands-on with them, their volunteers and their riders,” Donna says. “She will be adapting the programme to what that group needs.”

The organisation has 180 coaches, 3000 volunteers and about 3200 riders. Many of the groups serve rural and remote locations. Sharon will focus on riders with the highest and most complex needs. The majority of riders have an intellectual disability or multiple disabilities. Sharon will educate coaches so they can continue to mentor and upskill their volunteers. She will be starting her sessions with Te Aroha RDA, Central Taranaki RDA, Hāwera RDA and Whanganui RDA.

NZRDA says riding can help disabled people with physical and social skills. It can also assist with reading, counting, identifying colours, concentration and following instructions.

IHC Foundation Executive Director Larna Harding says the Foundation has received applications from several Riding for the Disabled Associations over the past few years. “Trustees have always held high regard for the programme and supported some individual groups with smaller grants, however they wanted to contribute in a way that would benefit all clubs nationally and have an ongoing impact.”

Caption: New Roving Coach for New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Sharon Aldersley will share her expertise with groups throughout the country.