2010 Mini Conference Programme
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Tora Bray & Long Service Awards
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RDA Supra Regional Conference
South East, South and Greater London Regions

Wednesday 21 October saw the first RDA Supra Regional Conference held at Sandown Park. Three RDA Regions, Greater London, South (Berks, Bucks, Oxon and Hants) and South East (Kent, Surrey and Sussex) who hosted the event, got together to listen to some inspiring talks by both professionals and RDA riders. The event was partly sponsored by the Big Lottery Fund.

The Conference was a sell out, with representatives of fifty-three riding and carriage driving groups attending with the intention of going back to their colleagues to pass on the broad range of information they had received during the day.

Ros Blackburn, an adult with autism who rode with RDA, gave a very insightful talk on how she perceives life and how she interprets instructions. This was inspiring and fascinating for all those attending as RDA caters for an ever-increasing number of participants living with autism

The youngest speaker was 16 year old Evie Sargrove who rides with the Cranleigh Group in Surrey. She spoke alongside her mother Christine, on how RDA has positively affected their family and Evie certainly livened up the day with a wonderful slide show done to very upbeat music!

Other speakers included Anita Claridge, ACPTR, who spoke on the harmony between horse and rider; RDA South East Regional Vet Ben Mayes, who spoke of the work of the British Equine Veterinary Association, particularly on the welfare of the horse; and Anita Hughes who is an Educational Psychologist who closed the conference with a very thought provoking talk on 'hope'.

Alongside this there were information stands on Special Equipment for use with disabled riders and drivers, RDA Holidays and RDA Carriage Driving.

Jane Holderness-Roddam, RDA National Chairman, kindly attended and made presentations to the Volunteer of the Year for each of the three regions, 25year Silver Jubilee Awards, and the Cranleigh Group Trophy for most improved rider to Evie Sargrove.

Also present were Three Day Event Champions, Pippa Funnell and Tina Cook who are Honorary Vice-Presidents of RDA South East Region.

From feedback received, it seemed that all those attending had found the day extremely interesting and useful and certainly everyone went home with a lot to think about.