14/05/2026
This mental health awareness week we have a particularly pertinent GRDA story to tell. This is Tammie Heenan’s journey with us.
‘I started my RDA journey in 2018, a time that was a bit rough for me. I was suffering with crippling anxiety, postnatal depression and agoraphobia. I would never dream of leaving my house unattended. My youngest had started at nursery and a good friend decided to tell me about the volunteering she done with Gareloch RDA and convinced me to go with her one morning to see if being around the horses helped my mental health. I suppose they say "and the rest is history", though this was just the beginning of my RDA journey. Kate, our wonderful Kate, was the first person I met that morning, she introduced me to the horses and other volunteers and before I knew it I was filling in my green card and had become a volunteer myself.
Over the coming weeks and months I developed a very strong bond with Boo, one of our fantastic equines, who had completely captured my heart. This was more than a horse, he became my best friend and confidant. My depression was being beaten, my agoraphobia subsiding and anxiety not quite gone, but nowhere to be seen when I was at the stables, my new happy place. I learned to drive so I could volunteer at every session and over the next couple of months and years I started a new journey to become an RDA coach.
Then, 2020 came and covid hit. We all know how that went, everyone struggled, me included. With the pandemic and lack of special RDA time, my problems resurfaced, my mental health took a sharp downward turn, and the depression, anxiety and agoraphobia was back with a vengeance. Unfortunately during this time we also had to say goodbye to Boo, as he went to enjoy a happy retirement, and although I kept in touch with his new human, the lockdowns prevented me from being able to see him again before he very sadly passed away.
I struggled for a long time to come back to RDA, my head wanted to, but my heart was still sore and the thought of going back without my special boy was a horrible feeling. I started working on a wee farm looking after llamas, alpacas and sheep, but horses were still my favourite. My body began to have a few physical issues, dodgy hips and chronic pain.
I did however return, when the time was right. In early 2024 a chance finding by Kate, a message and lots of hugs and catch ups later and I was back, this time at Ardencaple, the new riding base for Gareloch RDA. I had made my husband a promise to take it easy and only volunteer one day a week... that did not last long! Although I was living with pain and on crutches, GRDA made me feel at home again, after all, our motto is "It's what you CAN do that counts!", and that is exactly what happened. I joined the group as a participant as well as a volunteer, I picked up my coaching training again and became a Trustee and the group secretary (sorry husband!) but I would not change it for the world. This new RDA chapter has given me a new lease of life, new best friends and the opportunity to ride again and even win 1st place in my first ever RDA dressage competition!
I don't know where I would be if I didn't have Gareloch RDA. ‘
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