Together, Raising the Standards and HRV Hero are assisting the Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria to source more horses for their wonderful therapeutic programs.
Read more about the Heroes for RDA program by CLICKING HERE
Generally speaking, the following criteria best meet the requirements of RDA horses:
- 5-12 years of age (negotiable, based on the individual horse)
- Under 15.2hh (negotiable, based on the individual horse)
- Stocky build is ideal
- Quiet, with no spook/low reactivity to loud or sudden sounds and stimuli
- No aversive behaviours (bolting, bucking, rearing, kicking out, biting etc)
- Kind, gentle and easy to handle (by children and inexperienced and/or elderly RDA volunteers)
- Friendly and loves attention
- Paddocks nicely with other horses (RDA herds often include slow, old, small ponies who need to be safe)
- Well-mannered for the farrier, to worm and be treated by health professionals
- Vet-check sound (old racing injuries are ok, but must be declared. Horse should be sound, barefoot, able to pass a vet check and have no ongoing medication needs)
- Ideally had at least 12 weeks of spelling since racing and have transitioned off a racing diet
- Able to be brought up to date with health needs prior to acceptance into the Heroes for RDA program (i.e. arrive in good body condition, recently wormed and with neat feet…dental needs up to date would be fantastic too, where possible!)
Examples of the types of activities introduced during retraining for RDA:
Our retraining complex is located in Clonbinane, Victoria (2km from an exit on the Hume Hwy and about 15 minutes, as the crow flies, from the Kilmore Racing Club).
Ideally, horses will be delivered to us or located/able to be floated to a location within an hour of our property.
There are high expectations and pressures placed on RDA horses. As such, not all of the horses who undergo retraining will be successful at being accepted into a RDA centre.
Given this, an agreement will be put in place for unsuccessful horses to be returned to their racing connections, should they fail specialised RDA training (unsuccessful RDA prospects may still be suitable for rehoming via HRV Hero’s DOTT program).
To register a horse for the Heroes for RDA program, please contact Nic via email at: raisingthestandards@hotmail.com
Please include:
- Your name, connection to the horse and horse’s current location
- Your contact number
- A detailed overview of why you feel your standardbred would be suitable for Heroes for RDA
- Overview of horse’s health history/injuries
Here are some happy stories from past RDA horses:
