MY RDA HOLIDAY IN PORTUGAL by Mary H-S

Back in March 200, I was very privileged to go on a RDA holiday in Portugal. The group consisted of 8 disabled riders from all over the country and six helpers including a nurse, physiotherapist and a riding instructor.  Our leader was Lady Rosamund Gladstone.

Our flight was about 3 hours late leaving Gatwick but that did give us time to get to know each other. Our ages ranged from 17 to 61 years and there were just two men in the party.

 When we arrived in Lisbon, we were met by two mini buses from the stables, which took us on the 2 and a half hour drive to Milfontes, a small costal town, north of the Algarve. After a quick unpack and tidy up we had the first lovely evening meal followed by an induction meeting with Sheila who, along with her husband Rob, owned the riding stables.

The next morning we spent getting our boots and chaps disinfected as at home we were at the height of foot and mouth. After lunch we went for our first ride. It was only for 40 minutes. This was to see if we got on well with the horses that had been chosen for us.

The horses are a very old breed called Lusitano, free going and sure-footed. Their shoulder blades are very upright so they have a very short trotting step. My horse was called Joia, which means jewel, and she was a 16 hh grey mare. I was told by Rob to talk to her lots and trust her. I did and we got along fine. It was only at the end of the holiday I was told that, if she hadn’t liked me, she would have got very stroppy

During our first ride we split into two groups of 7 riders apparently horses run in groups of 7 or 8 within a herd. The countryside was breathtaking; we went up through a eucalyptus forest. We had only gone a short way when one of the horses pretended to bolt. He came cantering up fast carrying his squealing rider. He does this with every group and when he’d done it his sense of humour was satisfied and he settled down behind the leader. We were reassured that the lead horses were trained to stop any horses that thought they were going to do a runner. 

So our holiday continued with the rides increasing by 45 minutes a day until on the fourth day we had worked up to a 3-hour ride. As I have arthritis of the knee and spine it was very tiring. I had to be peeled off the horse at the end of every 3-hour ride and plonked into a chair, but it was worth every ache and pain. 

The area that we were riding in is called the Alenteso Region and it is a Hugh National Park. We rode through eucalyptus and cork oak forests, fields full of beautiful wild flowers; they had had the highest spring rainfall for 40 years so the flowers were spectacular. One day we went to see a waterfall, which is usually only there in winter. 

Most of the rides were in the mornings and we came back to a delicious lunch, prepared by Fatima and eaten on the verandah. The ride would be discussed after lunch and we would be told what we were going to do the following day. One afternoon Sheila took us up to the school and gave us a classic dressage demonstration. 

Throughout the holiday, both horses and riders could not have been better cared for. There were places on the ride where we were met by Rob and Lady Gladstone and usually 2 of the helpers, Sally and Jo the nurse, June and the Physio Mary rode with us. We were told if any of the rides got too much for us, the horse could be ridden back by one of the helpers.  This only happened a few times (but not to me!). 

On the last day, one of the horses got lame and a trailer was quickly dispatched to collect him.  Thank goodness for mobile phones. 

Our last two rides were the climax of the holiday.  On Friday afternoon we did a 3-hour rude to the beach, then threaded our way through the sand dunes to the edge of the pine forest.  To our great surprise, Fatima was there with a field kitchen, a nicely laid table and a huge pot of spaghetti bolognaise. 

The horses were tethered in the forest overnight, with 2 people from the stables camping with them.  We returned to our hotel for the night and were driven back the next day to ride the horses back to the farm. 

The rest of the time that week was taken up by sightseeing and going as a party to different restaurants every night – and this was all included in the £550 that the 10-day holiday cost us. 

This was the 7th time a holiday in Portugal has been organised by Lady Gladstone.  Each year she swears it will be the last. 

I just feel very lucky to have been chosen as one of the party.  It wouldn’t have been possible for me without the encouragement of everyone at the Elisabeth Curtis Centre. It was nice to put into practise everything I’ve learnt in the school. 

It was one of the best experiences of my life and it left me with a huge sense of achievement. 

A huge ‘Thank you’ to them and to the RDA for giving me the confidence to go out and do it.