This year, 14 volunteers have been honoured with one of the highest distinctions at RDA, the prestigious President’s Award. The President’s Award is the pinnacle of volunteer recognition within the RDA, reserved for individuals who have shown unparalleled dedication and service for three decades or more.

RDA is proud to announce this year’s recipients, a group of incredibly deserving volunteers from across the UK. Read on to learn more about these remarkable individuals and their exceptional contributions.

Comments from Michael Bishop, Chief Executive of RDA & Helena Vega-Lozano Chair of Trustees:

“The President’s Awards are a testament to the unwavering dedication of volunteers. Each recipient has devoted over three decades to enhancing the lives of our participants through RDA activities. Their commitment embodies the very essence of RDA, and the President’s Award is a well-deserved recognition of their invaluable contributions to our organisation.”

“Recognising these outstanding individuals with the President’s Award highlights the remarkable impact that long-term volunteering has on our organisation. Their decades of service have not only transformed lives but have also set a standard of excellence and compassion that inspires us all.”

Avril Nicholl

Ballyclare RDA | Northern Ireland | 42 Years Service

“I am chuffed and so grateful to receive the President’s award. I was delighted to receive an MBE 8 years ago but this is the icing on the cake.

Having volunteered for RDA for 42 years I have loved seeing the positive impact of horse riding. I am extremely proud of all the riders and volunteers that I have worked with at Ballyclare RDA. Volunteering has been such a rewarding experience and I have loved every minute of it.“

Barbara Thomson

Milton Abbas | South West | 35 Years Service

“It was a complete, and very pleasant, surprise – I do feel honoured. I began with RDA when I was 50 and had started to work from home. This meant I could arrange my hours to allow me to volunteer with a newly formed local group. I was an Instructor – I had become a BHS AI when I was 30, training in my spare time – and latterly Coach until I hit 80 when I stepped down, but remained a Trustee and continue to attend the weekly sessions as a side walker.

I accept the 2025 President’s Award with great pleasure and hope that I will be able to do so in person, although that will depend where and when the Royal Visit takes place. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.“

Frances Maskell

Chigwell Riding Trust | Greater London | 34 Years Service

“I am proud and honoured to be receiving this award, especially as it’s for something that I love doing.

I did my first RDA lesson in October 1990 and I knew at the end of the afternoon that I would continue to volunteer because I was so inspired. I have been involved with riders of all ages from toddlers to pensioners and have enjoyed every lesson. I have known some riders for ten to fifteen years and have watched them grow. Volunteering also helped me about twenty years ago when I was going through a difficult time in my life.“

Gerry Green

Clwyd | North Wales | 33 Years Service

“What 30 years of volunteering means to me, lots of fun and lots of cake, also the joy of being part someone’s progressive

Journey is immeasurable. I feel privileged to have supported children right from their very first riding session through to them leaving school,

Even proudly watching them compete at the Paralympics. A moto I have stood by for the last 30 years is ‘if I hold your hand and you hold mine together, we can do this.”

Gillian Morrison

Muirfield Riding Therapy | Edinburgh and Borders | 36 Years Service

“When starting the Muirfield Group (now Muirfield Riding Therapy) in 1989, I had no idea that it would grow to the size it is today. Whilst I feel a sense of pride that I took a leap of faith all those years ago, I must give credit to friends who not only shared my passion, but had the skills to develop the Group, enabling us to offer riding to more and more disabled people.

It has been a fascinating and hugely rewarding journey, benefitting both the riders and volunteers.

I am grateful to colleagues who put my name forward to receive the 2025 RDA President’s Award – an award that has been earned by the whole team here at West Fenton.

RDA is a wonderful organisation and I would encourage anyone who is fortunate enough to have the facilities to launch a new Group to go ahead. Make sure you have a strong team to share your passion!”

Julie Andrew

Helen Atkin RDA Group | North Midlands | 33 Years Service

“My  involvement with horses began many years ago when my children Caroline Richard and Louise were lucky to have horses as their main interest and  eventually both girls where competing nationally with the dad Doug taking them all over the country.  When caroline left school she set up Buxton Riding School and a few years later on Louise took over the riding school and son Richard became a farrier.  After a few years Pat Atkin came to us with the sad news her daughter Helen had died in a car crash as a teenager and wanted all donations to go to riding for the disabled, so we set up the Helen Atkin RDA group which has grown enormously over 30 plus years and now has 70 plus riders from schools and individuals from all ages and backgrounds , and recently our group has raised enough money to  build our indoor arena which Princess Anne  recently came to visit and present us with a plaque and long standing awards.

I have been involved with this group from the beginning and over the years it has been a huge part of my life seeing how the connection.” with horses can change lives mentally and physically. I have enjoyed every minute and hope to continue for many more years.”

Linda Sobey

Forde Abbey Carriage Driving | South West | 54 Years Service

“I am so very grateful to have been chosen as this year’s recipient of the President’s Award and rather amazed. I had my first experience with ponies at 10 years old at Suzanne’s riding school from that moment I was hooked . Having dwarfism I must have been a challenge to Suzanne’s but I was encouraged and spending all my holiday’s and weekends as a helper. I left school at 16 and luckily being then employed and passing my BHSAI at Suzanne’s when I was 19. I was first involved with RDA through my work as a junior instructor one of the very early riding groups being the Harrow Weald RDA groups held there. I taught the childrens group and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I left Suzanne’s I worked with competition ponies and it was not until moving down to Somerset in 1983 my RDA life started again .The Chard and District RDA was started , I was once again the group coach for the childrens group. Then my life took a different path I had a very serious riding accident. A silly everyday fall but one that left me with life changing injuries.
However RDA had not finished with me as the Forde Abbey RDA Driving group started and now I was to reap the rewards for myself. Driving through the beautiful grounds of the Abbey are uplifting and I’m enjoying being part of RDA again . So thank you everyone .”

My goodness what an honour and surprise I received today in the post.

I really do not think I deserve such an honour but I accept it with great pleasure and thank you everyone that put my name forward… I have always loved RDA and seen the benefits both as a riding coach and later due to an accident as a driver.

Once again thank you for this honour.”

 

Maggie Moore

High Riders RDA | West Mercia | 40 years + service

“I first became acquainted with RDA in the seventies when working as a physiotherapist, I took my special needs children riding. I have been involved in various roles ever since.

I am pleased to receive the award but really it is for all the the wonderful people I have met on the way. RDA volunteers are great.”

Mary Biggs

Cranleigh | South East | 35+ Years Service

“I was rather a shy and timid young girl who found riding on a pony gave me so much fun and confidence and was lucky enough to have my own pony in my early teens. Later, married with two very young daughters, my husband’s work took us to Hong Kong in 1981 and I had time free to become a volunteer at the RDA Pokfulam Centre on HK Island. Returning to live in West Sussex we bought a small grey mare and joined the local Chiddingfold Pony Club. Through some of the committee I heard about the Cranleigh RDA and became a volunteer in 1988 … the Thursday afternoon session … and have been going ever since!

Over the years I helped with fundraising, was Organiser of my session for a couple of years, learned new skills such as using a hoist, adapted to using different equipment and made friends with so many other helpers and of course loved all the wonderful ponies and horses.

“I continue, after all these years helping at Cranleigh RDA, to get great pleasure from being part of a group of regular volunteers and I feel very honoured to be receiving the President’s Award, not only for me but also for all those who I have been fortunate to know through CRDA and especially to my nominator, Liz Harrison.”

Pamela Jones

Clwyd | North Wales | 44 Years Service

“I would be absolutely delighted to accept this truly prestigious award. I am speechless and humbled to be recognised by our RDA family. What a wonderful surprise. With heartfelt thanks.

Through my many RDA years I have been extremely lucky to have met and worked with such inspiring people both abroad and in the UK which has enriched my Coaching.”

Sally Hall

Urchinwood Manor Accessibility Mark Centre | Mid West | 41 Years Service

“I feel extremely honored and am delighted to receive this prestigious award. I have learnt so much and had so much pleasure from working with the RDA over the years.”

Stella Lois Dales

Lyncombe Lodge | Mid West | 45 Years Service

“I began helping with RDA in 1979. Having never ridden or had anything to do with horses I began helping with the school groups who came, I was a teacher before moving to Churchill. I was trained by group to do work in the arena. Nowadays I work on organisation of session as I am 85 and not insured to work in the arena.”

Susan Jane Coote

Court Meadow Group | South East | 40 Years Service

“I started my RDA journey over 40 years ago in the 1980s volunteering at two groups  Hope in The Valley who had physically handicapped children it was wonderful helping them mount and ride especially those who mounted from wheel chairs who became like everyone else when on board ,

The other group was Courtmeadow who had children with special needs some find things more difficult to cope with but with our help they learn to touch lead and hopefully ride and enjoy themselves

In the early 1990s I got a Highland pony Banner who helped at both groups for sometime, meeting The Princess Royal 1n 1997 at Hope in the Valley  I left Hope in the Valley when I took on  care of Courtmeadows loan pony Puppet a Connemara and both he and Banner were used for Ridding Sessions and RDA competitions for many years very successfully.”

I just love it all and it is still the highlight of my week.”

Yvonne Watson

Shiresmill Therapy Riding Centre | Edinburgh and Borders | 41 Years Service

“It has been the most pleasurable and rewarding experience working with the RDA , I love to be with the participants, to be part of their amazing achievements, working with and riding the ponies, their laughter and smiles make me a very happy person”