About Us - Watershed RDA Coates

Welcome to The Watershed Riding for the Disabled Group

We are a small, friendly RDA Group based in the village of Coates near Cirencester in Gloucestershire. We were started by Sue and Andrew Bowden in 1993. The ethos that they wished to create then was one of caring not only for the riders but their whole families and also for the volunteers and helpers.
The Watershed Family was of great importance to them and maintaining it remains our main aim and focus at Watershed RDA today.

Many RDA Groups run from riding stables but we are different and unique because we have our own premises with housing for six ponies. We have a modern and well-equipped stable yard – plus a tack room, a resources area, an outdoor class room, sensory garden and trail and an all-weather menage with a mounting ramp, hoist, mirrors and lighting.

We have a warm and welcoming Mess Room with a kitchen, disabled toilet facilities and an office. The large round table is our centre piece and supports an enormous amount of cake (!) but also enables our riders to socialise both before and after their riding sessions. Just as importantly it provides a space where parents, families and carers can chat, support each other and exchange helpful information.

Who we help

Here at Watershed, we support riders of all ages—from as young as three years old to those well beyond retirement. Our mission is to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals facing a wide range of challenges.
We proudly accommodate riders with:

Mental and Physical Health Conditions: Including those recovering from strokes, living with multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy.
Neurodiversity and Special Learning Difficulties: Supporting individuals with unique learning styles and needs.
Sensory Impairments: Including sight, hearing, or speech loss.
Impaired Communication Skills: Providing opportunities for growth and connection.
Accidents and Recovery: Assisting those recovering from injuries, surgeries, or limb loss.
Severe Anxiety and Emotional Challenges: Offering a therapeutic and calming space.

Whatever challenges you may face, even if they aren’t listed above, we encourage you to contact us. Let us work together to see if we can support you.

How it works

Every rider is carefully assessed and is paired with a suitable available pony. A coach and a personal group of volunteers is allocated to them – some riders may need a team of 5-6 people to facilitate their ride.

Clients are also welcome to participate in activities beyond riding, such as grooming, stable management, and tack cleaning. These opportunities provide a fulfilling way to connect with the horses and the community, even for those who do not ride.

Other activities

You don’t need to be a rider or riding session volunteer to get involved with our activities. Some of the opportunities available include:

Dementia Coffee Mornings – We host these on Monday mornings during term time, with two sessions: one for dementia clients and their carers, and another for older people who may struggle to get out regularly. These mornings are filled with friendly conversation and cake sampling! Booking is essential – please contact Trish Lash on 07860 107028.

Corporate Days – We welcome various companies to volunteer with us. The support they provide is crucial for tasks we can’t manage ourselves, making their help truly invaluable. Volunteering with colleagues can be both enjoyable and rewarding.

Duke of Edinburgh Award – We offer volunteering opportunities for DofE Award students, where they can assist for a term with activities, supporting riders and helping in the stable yard.

Di Green

I was diagnosed with trauma induced MS 10 years after a riding accident saw me suffer a horrific head and facial injury when I was kicked in the face by a horse I was leading. My riding days ended there until some 17 years later a Consultant suggested I should go back to riding as I was struggling to sit up unaided for long and he thought it would be good for my core strength.

That is when I met the Watershed RDA Team and Beans the wonder pony. At first I cried each time when I got home, I was nervous when I rode and couldn’t last more than 10 minutes at a time, I had to have 2 walkers either side of me and someone leading Beans, very upsetting for someone who in a previous life had had horses at Grand Prix Dressage level and I was sad that I couldn’t see that I would ever get that back.

The Watershed Team were fantastic with me and we did everything at my pace and with humour and as the months went by I got stronger and more confident until I was able to move from the steady neddy that is Beans and start to ride off of the lead rein and onto Connor who was much sharper and a real character. I started doing some video dressage tests with him and at the end of our first year together we won a silver medal in the RDA online National Championships 2015. It went so well I made the decision to seek out a Dressage Trainer, with the aim of improving my riding further…

I found my trainer, Sara Gallop, at Summerhouse Equestrian Centre and after a few months together she suggested I get my own horse and have a go at Para Dressage – so she found me the perfect Horse Winnie who we nickname the Unicorn.

Winnie and I joined the British Dressage South West Para Dressage Team in January 2016, were we attend a monthly training session with FEI trainers and Judges, attended the Para Dressage Camp with the team GB coaches and were selected to represent the region at the Inter County Championships, where we were Reserve Champions.

We were then selected to represent England at the Home International held at Vale View, Melton Mowbray. Winnie and I won all 4 of our tests and our team were 3rd, the highest placing they have ever achieved at this event. I also won the top prize for the highest scoring rider of the weekend.

We won Gold at the Dressage Anywhere RDA National Championships riding for Watershed RDA

Were Reserve Champions in the Freestyle Championships at the RDA Nationals 2016

We applied for entry onto the BEF Talent Pathway (Team GB training platform) and have been selected, this leads onto the World Class Podium Pathway. Our first training session was August 9th.

Winnie and I also won the British Dressage Bronze National Championships and came 2nd in the Silvers – hard to believe that we have become National Champions in our first attempt – the future is very exciting.

Without Watershed RDA I would not have started on this journey with Winnie and Sara and I owe them so much. I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be able to ride a Grand Prix test but I can still ride a quality horse and compete at the highest level.

In the early days of my diagnosis there were times when I would be at home for weeks at a time without venturing out in my wheelchair, now I have a full-time job in our business, drive a car independently and ride Winnie 3/4 times a week with a competition most weeks too and I am back at Watershed coaching 3 other budding Dressage stars when I can – Thank you Watershed!

Editors note:

We are so proud to have played a part in Di’s remarkable achievements in getting back in the saddle and going on to achieve such great success!

Di has set up the Para Equestrian Foundation to help disabled riders on their Para Olympic equestrian pathway – check out her site www.paraequestrianfoundation.org

Management Team at Watershed

The Trustees of the Watershed RDA Group serve on the committee. These individuals have strong personal commitment to the Group and all are unpaid volunteers.

Pamela Farnsworth

Bill Lash

Sandy McCallum

Kate Beim

Lorraine Hackett

Kathy Mottershead

Yard Manager

Sophie Cole is our Yard Manager and came to us with a wealth of equine experience following work on an event yard. She is always smiling and has that positive can do attitude that matches that of RDA. Sophie has empathy for all our clients which again is an essential requisite for what we provide at Watershed. Equine welfare and care is of primary importance at Watershed and Sophie delivers that high level of care in addition to supporting the coaches and trustees.

Sophie Cole

Meet Our Four-Legged Team

Learn about our well-trained and friendly ponies.

View Our Ponies