It’s been a privilege and a steep learning curve to work with the special children who attend RDA. I’ve learned that with some of our riders, less is more, and with others, it’s hard to get a word in edgewise.

Humility, gratitude, respect, empathy, kindness are words that come to mind when I’m thinking about the riders and their whanau of carers. The transformation that comes over a child from week to week as the horses work their therapeutic magic on them, and the magic that rubs off on us all.

Impossible not to have favourites - riders who communicate with their eyes lit up or the widest smile possible. Their fun with all of Judith’s wonderful activities. I had no clue that my Tuesday mornings would feel so worthwhile, including all the conversations on the pink couch and fixing the odd water trough.

So thank you Luisa (and for all our chats) and all the Tuesday people for the camaraderie, the best hugs, the joy and the sense of belonging to something that is doing good mahi.

I can never unhear those wonderful lyrics.... “riding along, singing the cowboy song”; now a nickering earworm and an integral part of my RDA experience.

Aroha, Katharine