13/08/2026
Our horses do more than carry our child and adult riders. To keep them confident, responsive and ready for their role, they also need regular training — and our volunteer riders are an important part of that.
This week, our volunteer Paris, was looking through some old RDA Kendall photos when she recognised Coco, a horse her family had given to RDA Kendall many years ago.
Seeing the photo had Paris telling us of her memories of growing up around horses and her family’s connection with RDA Kendall.
Horses and riding were very much part of Paris’s family, but riding was never really her thing. After falling off a horse at the age of 12, Paris didn’t ride again.
Now, as part of the RDA Kendall team, Paris is back in the saddle.
Under the guidance of our coaches and with encouragement from fellow volunteers, she takes part in riding when the opportunity arises as part of the horses’ ongoing training.
Along the way, Paris has steadily become a more confident and capable rider — one of those unexpected things that can sometimes happen when volunteering takes you in a direction you never anticipated.
Coming across that old photo of Coco was a lovely reminder of Paris’s family connection with RDA Kendall — and how, many years later, Paris herself has become part of the RDA story.
Below are photos of little Paris on Coco and standing with Coco's sister Haley. The confident Paris today on Jay & Katie, and a photo of Coco that promoted the conversation.
