So long and thank you Sue
Sue joined North Shore RDA in August of 2017. After working in Kohimarama, she would often see the Auckland central branch of RDA and knew it was something she wanted to do in the future. Once she had reduced her hours as a physiotherapist and moved north, she decided the time was right, and gave NSRDA a call. She remembers how welcoming Rhonda was as the Day Coordinator at the time. As well as volunteering on the rides, Sue played a role in the Governance Committee for a few years to help reach a quorum when numbers were tight, and more recently as a vital member of the Operations Committee.
Sue’s horse riding history began from the age of about 5 or 6 on her first pony “Topsy”. Living in Kariotahi, riding there involved travelling across paddocks and down rural roads to the local Taurangaruru Pony Club in Waiuku where Sue competed in various ribbon days, gymkhanas as well as the Pukekohe A&P show, and One Day events. Successive ponies were “Topsy Turvy”, a 12.2hh pony who bucked like a bronco. Then came Duchess and finally Flirt, an ex polo pony.
As a young rider, Sue recalls taking part in the children’s hunt at first and then as kids of the land owners where the hunt took part, being allowed to follow along behind the main Pakuranga hunt as they pursued hares. At the age of about 14-15, boarding school interrupted the riding and then adult life took hold.
When Sue’s sons were rowing for Auckland Grammar, she and seven other mothers tried their hands in a rowing eight and they have been rowing ever since. Sue won a gold medal in her age group 70+ in a single scull at the World Masters Games in Karapiro in 2017. Her rowing life included racing at Henley, rowing from Toulouse to Bezier on the Canal du Midi and various other adventures around New Zealand.
One of Sue’s many NSRDA memories involves a rider who came to us with autism and some sensory processing issues. Even with full support from her parent she would not get on the horse at all for many weeks. Eventually we managed to get her on the horse and it quickly became apparent the benefit this would have for her. You could feel the tension in her leg as a sidewalker and then she would go from stiff and tense to settled and relaxed once the horse started moving. A break of a few years and this rider returned to us via a school group and the change in her was significant, she continued to progress to being able to ride with very little support at all.
Sue reflects on how settled NSRDA is at present, with an active Committee, solid team of staff, and great volunteers. Sue leaves us towards the end of July to move south to Queenstown to be nearer to her adult children and their families where she and husband Alistair will continue to provide helpful support. We will miss your energy Sue as well your knowledge and wise consideration.
