Archives: Timeline Stories

In March 2020 the country went into a national lockdown and so inline with government and RDA UK advice the centre ceased riding activity and went into lockdown, focusing on protecting our employees, ensuring our ponies continue to receive expert care and the centre is maintained for a time when we can return. A lot has changed in the year, we moved from events to solely digital fundraising focused with the kind support of members of the public and trusts who have funded us to continue to care for our ponies and pay the ongoing bills. Digital has become more..Read More

In 2019 the RDA celebrated its 50th anniversary and a number of events were organised both regionally and nationally to celebrate. Events at the centre included an extended Coffee Morning and anniversary themed   riding sessions during the week. 

At the end of 2018, the trustees and coaches agreed on a new riding surface for our indoor school to have lower  dust levels and be easier to walk on for our ponies and volunteers. Another round of fundraising was needed to raise £20,000, so that the new surface could be delivered and installed. This was successfully completed in August 2019. 

2015 was our 40th year operating in Bromham. We have seen a number of changes throughout our time, from our name, our location, our neighbours and of course the ponies, riders and volunteers who have walked through our doors. We celebrated with a 40th anniversary book documenting our history and an all important coffee  & cake meet.

Over the summer of 2012 volunteers helped to enclose the indoor school seating area to make it more comfortable for riders, parents, carers and helpers, especially during the winter months.

The Centre became a Charitable Company in 2011 which resulted in the Centre being renamed as the ‘Elisabeth Curtis Centre, Riding for the Disabled’.  More native trees were planted in the grazing opposite, to provide shelter for the ponies in winter and shade in the summer, and to reduce winter flooding. 

The Centre subsequently had to put a number of security systems in place and in 2009 built a dedicated tack room extension to the existing office/kitchen.

During 2007 we suffered a heartless theft of tack, some of which had been specially adapted to fit the ponies.  The Centre suffered damage when the thieves broke in which could have resulted in the Centre having to close for two months.  Due to the generosity and donations of both tack and money from many kind people – neighbours, horse owners, businesses, Rotary Clubs, golf clubs etc., the Centre was able to reopen within three weeks.  Subsequently, a number of additional security systems were installed.

In 2002, a new circular ride on the estate was laid by Bryant Homes and an outdoor stable was built, in the Centre of the Sensory Ride, to take a pony for whom indoor stabling is not appropriate. 

On 1st April 1999 changes to the RDA National constitution saw the Centre become a charity in its own right whilst retaining its membership of the RDA. The Centre’s growth and development have been due to the efforts of a vast amount of people, each as important as the other, working together to continue to provide the valuable service started in 1975.