The Unofficial Royal Blog- Moonlighting At The RDA

The Unofficial Royal Blog- Moonlighting At The RDA

The Unofficial Royal
Hi again everyone, it is I, HRH Chime at your service.
Today I thought I would let you in on my secret okupash…ocupayshn…job.
You see my Mumma used to work as a coach at a place called the RDA. That is short for Riding for the Disabled and they do an awesome job using horses as therapy for people with disabilities. Well my Mumma thought that I would be quite good at the RDA because I am a pretty laid back dude and not much fazes me.
So when I was only five Mumma would take me along to work every Wednesday so I could give some of the kids a ride. It was such fun because I got to hang out with all the other RDA horses in the stables and eat hay. Also some of the kids would bring us carrots and apples to have for treats when we were finished.
When it was my turn to be ridden I would have to stand really quiet at the mounting block while my rider got on. We had to make sure we were still as a statue for them because sometimes they took a while to get on. Then we would go in to the indoor arena and start our session. I liked the arena because it had a big mirror down the far end and I used to love stopping and looking at my gorgeous self as I went passed.
The kids had to do all sorts of stuff on us. We got to walk over poles, around cones, through flags and even under a ribbon waterfall. They threw balls into nets, waved flags around, tossed hoops and even used Nerf guns to shoot targets! I was really good and stood as quiet as a lamb. My Mumma always said that my best pace was my halt!!
I also used to love doing my little party trick for the kids. You see Mumma taught me a wee trick and that was to stand up on a wooden box with my front hooves. She taught me how to do it using clicker training so of course whenever I stood on the box I would get a treat. Well I learned pretty darned quick what would earn me a delicious delicacy so whenever I went passed the wooden box, even if the kid who was riding me didn’t want to, I would veer off to the side (really slowly though of course because, you know, I have to take care of my precious cargo) and I would stand up there and look around for Mumma so she could bring me my treat. The kids would freak out a bit to start but then peals of laughter would echo through the arena.
I always knew that Mumma would have a pocket full of treats when I was at the RDA but it didn’t take long for those other cunning ponies to realise she had a stash of yum yums as well so I was a bit annoyed that I had to share my treats with them too.
Sometimes if it was a nice day we would get to go for a walk around the big park where the RDA is. Mumma would hide objects all around the place and the kids would have Bingo cards with pictures of the items on them. We would go up and down little hills, across the grass and around the duck pond and the kids would have to yell out or point if they spotted one of the things on their card.
Anywho, I really enjoyed my time at the RDA, and not just because of all the treats I got, but because it made me so happy seeing the kids with a huge smile on their face and all the hugs and kisses I got from them.
So if you are ever able to help out at an RDA they always need volunteers and it is so rewarding. And you never know, you might get a yummy treat too.