General News
13 February, 2026
RDA seek more volunteers
Maryborough Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) will resume weekly sessions on Tuesday, February 17, and are keen to bring more volunteers onboard as the year unfolds.
Maryborough RDA hosts a vast range of equine activities, often used by school groups, but the organisations’s president Aileen Marshall said without additional support, the capacity of the much loved program is limited.
“What we have is structured riding lessons, games, competitive dressage and we can add long reining and stuff like that,” she said.
“But we need more people helping riders during lessons, assisting with the care and welfare of the horses, preparing the horses prior to riding, assisting the mounting of riders, providing food, helping with publicity, fundraising and special events.”
Programs operated by the RDA have vast and highly effective benefits on participant’s physical, social and mental wellbeing.
Their mission is to provide therapeutic benefits, life skills development and opportunities for achievement, all while being supported by a qualified coach.
This month, the group has already kicked off training for both volunteers and horses to get used to different activities, but the organisation is looking for more people regardless of whether they have an equine passion or not.
“We have on hand training if you don’t know anything about horses, or if you want to learn, we supply that. We never ask anyone to join and do something above what they want, it’s up to them,” Ms Marshall said.
But help isn’t just extended to the human kind. Maryborough RDA is welcoming horses to volunteer their time too, who will undergo training of their own.
“Anyone that is willing to bring a horse along, or they think they might have something that would suit us. The main thing is, they might not just go into the program, it can take however long it takes,” Ms Marshall said.
“A horse like Shanoo here, he loves the attention, no different than a person. He loves people.
“It’s the partnership between [horses and the rider], like a dance partner. If you’re in sequence, you have a great partnership.”
Maryborough RDA are still based at 11 - 13 Johnson Street and runs sessions every Tuesday during school terms from 9 am to 1 pm.
Those who are interested in volunteering, or can offer a horse to take part in the program, are encouraged to contact Maryborough RDA on 5460-4539.
“We believe we get out more than what we put in, who could not be happy handling one of these horses?” Ms Marshall said.
