Thirty years strong

The South African Riding for the Disabled Association’s (Sarda) Gauteng branch celebrated its 30th year in existence on Saturday 6 September at Usambara in Muldersdrift.

“We have managed to put ‘able’ back into ‘disable'” – Katrina Evans, Sarda Gauteng’s chairperson

Sarda, a registered non-profit and public benefit organisation that relies solely on public donations and own fundraising endeavours is assisting pupils from nine schools on the West-Rand with a variety of disabilities through horse therapy.

These disabilities include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down syndrome, autism, foetal alcohol syndrome, mental retardation, visual and hearing impairment and genetic disorders.

Katrina Evans (Sarda Gauteng’s chairperson) says it is wonderful to see how much this branch has grown over the years.

“Here we have learned to handle and assist with any situation. We have managed to put ‘able’ back into ‘disable’.”

She says Sarda would not have been a success without the help of all their volunteers, committee members, five staff members and without a doubt all of their four-legged therapists.

The Gauteng branch in Peter Road in Ruimsig was established in 1984. They operated from a number of riding schools around the greater Johannesburg area. In 1987 the Roodepoort Council made available an undeveloped plot and through hard work and after raising thousands of rands to build stables and paddocks Sarda moved to their new home in 1989.

In 2013 the Equine Assisted Riding, Theraphy and Healing (Earth) Centre was born from the need to create ongoing funding for Sarda. The Centre allowed them to offer other types of equine-assisted interventions on a charge basis. This enables Sarda to keep operating as the majority of their riders comes from disadvantaged backgrounds and live with a variety of disabilities.

Their fully qualified instructors currently use 10 ponies and two miniature donkeys to provide free therapeutic riding for children.

Sarda is also home to exchange students who, as part of their course, are required to do voluntary work. Cora Pfleger and Vanessa Hahner from the Universities of Passau and Wuerzburg respectively have become part of the Sarda family for a while and also joined them at the 30th celebrations.

Both Pfleger and Hahner say they love working with people and especially those who need help.

Sarda is always looking for volunteers to help them as well as people who are willing to donate goods or money so that they can improve their Centre and facilities. If you are able to assist them in any way please contact them on 011 958 5044 to find out what their current needs are.