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The primary objective of Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)
is to provide people with a disability, the opportunity to ride and enjoy all
the activities connected with horse riding. RDA NSW chose to operate as a stand
alone organisation in 2006.
In order to ensure that RDA NSW riders have access to National,
International and Paralympic levels of competition RDAA requested that the
elite riders form a new Association in New South Wales.
The Association is called the Equestrian Athletes with Disabilities
(E.A.D).The establishment of this Association allows NSW riders to represent
their country with the rest of RDA Australia.
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RDA Para-Equestrian Team members Jan Pike, Nicole Kullen, Mary
Ipkendanz, Grace Bowman, Marita Hird, Sharon Jarvis and Georgia Bruce at the
2007 FEI World Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Hartpury, England.
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Jan Pike is a member of the Paralympic Preparation Program (PPP) Squad
that competed at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. Jan is the Grade 1a National
Champion. Jan is a wonderful Ambassador for Australia. Jan competed
successfully at the 2004 Athens Paralympics; bringing home back 1 Silver and 1
Bronze medals.
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Jan lives with Cerebral
Palsy Quadriplegia, a condition that affects her co-ordination, muscle control,
strength, balance, speech & mobility.
Dr.
Doulittle was purchased for Riding for the Disabled (RDA) as a squad horse and is
on lease to Jan for competitions. He was brought from Germany to Australia and as Jan explains “he's multilingual: he understands German,
English and Cerebral Palsy”.
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Jan Pike & Dr.
Doulittle 2004 Athens
Paralympics
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The President of the newly formed E.A.D., Jaci Armstrong, has been
involved with RDA (NSW) for several years at the Ryde RDA Centre as a member,
rider and Coach. Jaci is a member of the NSW Dressage Committee and is also
involved with many other community organisations.
EAD President
Jaci Armstrong
Equestrian
Athletes with Disabilities (EAD) NSW
T: 0414 224 417
or
E: ead@rdansw.org.au
Visit RDA NSW
website at www.rdansw.org.au
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