How to volunteer and register a child?

The organisers can be contacted at lessons@rdad.ae by people looking to volunteer. In the email, they want to know how many hours a week a volunteer can commit.

“I come on the same day every week, so I tend to work with the same children,” Jessica Cook, a volunteer said. “It’s great that I can see the children grow and mature and become more competent around the horse and more confident.”

The riding season finished at the end of April, when it started to get too hot for everyone – even the horses!

If it cools down quick enough, the season can get started in the beginning of October, but they sometimes have to hold out until the end of the month.

Although they have around 55 volunteers, which might seem like a lot – it’s not. RDAD is always looking for more volunteers to join them because there is often a high turnover of volunteers from season to season.

Right now, they are able to offer two lessons a day, five days a week. Each child on a horse needs three volunteers in a lesson. One to lead the horse, and two side walkers to stay beside the rider. The lessons accommodate four children at a time. That means, for every 45 minute lesson they need 12 volunteers! On top of this there is also an instructor and an assistant.

Volunteering doesn’t require skills with horses and horseback riding. Because there are always three volunteers with every child, only one – the leader, who controls the horse, needs to have a certain level of ease with horses. The other two volunteers need to be paying a close eye on the rider, making sure the child is comfortable, balanced and having fun.

Volunteers are asked to commit to one session per week, which is two 45-minute lessons.

Manager of RDAD, Caroline Seemar stressed the importance of volunteers who are ready to give their time. “If a volunteer didn’t turn up, it means a child couldn’t ride. So dedication is very important for a rider.”