More than 80 Western Bay of Plenty children with disabilities and Tauranga RDA volunteers rode at the annual Ribbon Day and Gala at the Tauranga Equestrian Therapy Centre on Saturday, October 30.

'It's a fantastic opportunity for the community to see the achievements of our riders and for riders to experience competing and winning ribbons,” says Tauranga RDA CEO Kat MacMillan.

'[The annual gala is] also a great opportunity for us to raise funds for our programmes.”

At 3 1/2 years old, Lenore Pope was the youngest rider at the RDA Gala.

Lenore Pope, who has cystic fibrosis, was the youngest rider at only three-and-a-half years old. Lenore's mother Karen says they found out about the RDA through the hospital and that her daughter has been riding for four months.

'She has always loved horses and now she rides once a week,” says Karen.

'She thinks it's absolutely fantastic. It is very important to her and the main focus each week is her horse riding.”

Some of the competitions include fancy dress, best rider, handy pony, egg and spoon, hops over poles, working hunter, bending around, chocolate fish race and judges' choice.

In conjunction with the ribbon day was a gala with lots of activities for the community to participate in, including face painting, a bouncy castle, cake stall and a live band.

Last year, between 500-700 people visited throughout the day and Kat is expecting the same amount of people today.

Rachel Loader competes in the 'best rider' competition.


Riders in the 'best rider' event line up to be judged.

Nimeu Joss had her face painted by Lillybeth Melmoth.

Ben Richards was busy at the home baking stall on Saturday.