2010 Season's End

At the end of a 35 week season at the East Holton Driving Centre and 875 drives under our belts for the 2010 season. Our drivers, our support workers, our RDA whips and committee.

We are fortunate to have the 350acre site and the ability to operate five days a week, enough support workers to cover that period of time. I feel fortunate that, after standing down to be their Group organiser at this years AGM, the group agreed to re-elect me for the next three years.

I feel I don’t have to apologise for my stand to achieve equal standing for disabled and non-disabled people and offering them access to all areas of the group. The EHDC is an adult group: I respect our members, their views, their needs, their independence, and a say in the group's and their own destiny.

· We are open and honest

· Our service users are varied, and we all benefit from the environment of ‘Holton Lee’.

. Disabled people

. Non-disabled people

. Year 10 students from local schools come to learn about equitation, and disability awareness.

. Kingston Maurward agricultural college the same.

Risk Assessments have been carried out and our mentoring methods have been approved safe for all concerned.

I had a vision that became a mission. I ruffled feathers and upset a few people. While making a stand for the equality of people, it is the people that are important not whether they are disabled or not. If only we could go back to basics, rid ourselves of materialism, and greed. The important part we play at EHDC is having the ability to share our time, our care, our problems, the horses and the environment, and our Christian acts. We accept people as they are, any religion or none.

Justifiably proud,

Wally Pitt – Group Organiser EHDC

The following is an e-mail that warms our hearts! Messages like this confirm to me that what we do is right for the group.

Dear Wally,

When guests come along to stay in the Old Barn/Cottages they always come back from a trip to the stables with brilliant stories of the way they are made to feel so welcome and how much they learn from their visits.

Guests are so pleased to hear carriage driving is available, but don’t know the unique way in which they will be invited to become involved ‘in all areas’ until they have had a visit with you. Their stories always tell of how much they have enjoyed the visit. Being around horses again reinstates confidence, but the way guests are included/involved when they visit acts as a major confidence boost. Guests who have been involved with horses in a ‘previous life’ career wise or as an interest suddenly find that the door is still open to them in the same way, not in a patronising way.

Louise

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