About us
The group is run solely by volunteers – no one takes a paid role. Not even our instructors.
Our volunteers regularly give up their holiday days to take children to competitions or attend RDA training courses to keep up to date
We are funded purely through donations from the public and our own fundraising efforts.
In 2023 we had 60 individual riders age 3 – 30+
Total number of rides for this period was approx. 680
We had approx. 40 volunteers on record age 14 – 80+! but always need more!
We offer 2 lessons on Thursdays every week during school term times and 2 Tuesday evening lessons twice a month.
Brief history
Group was formed in the early 1970’s and at that point “Home” was a field in Scotby to which local owners brought their ponies each week for the RDA to use.
After a few years the group moved to the site of Daltons Auction Mart in Botchergate, Carlisle. Still having to transport borrowed ponies each week, but at least they had a roof. Unfortunately though our volunteers had to turn up early each week to ensure any broken glass was removed for the areas before the ponies and children arrived!
In the early 80’s the group moved to Blackdyke Farm Riding and Competition Centre. We were able to hire the purpose built indoor riding school and also ponies from the riding school. This has since been our base and we are very grateful to the Collier family who continue to give us fantastic rates for hiring their ponies.
2012 – The need for a larger horse was identified. While the riding school have plenty ponies they can hire us, their horses are not all suitable for RDA use. The one horse we could reliably use unfortunately had to be put to sleep after an accident. We needed a horse capable of carrying our older riders and also to be able to take away competing.
2013 – We were granted a BT Sports Relief grant to build a new outdoor arena and to buy a horse. Had an exciting year filming with Clare Balding and Lee Pearson OBE as they helped us find a horse to buy. Nutmeg arrived (see the you tube file Clare Balding’s one horse race) on a lovely sunny day in July 2013. But after a trail period we made the sad decision that we weren’t the right home for Nutmeg, so the search for a new horse began again!
Nov 2014 – Smartie Pants V was bought!
2023- Carlisle RDA turned 50!