Sobre nós

O que fazemos

A Associação de Equitação Adaptada do Barlavento é uma associação voluntária, sem fins lucrativos, dedicada a fazer uma diferença grande e duradoura nas vidas das pessoas com deficiência, permitindo que montem a cavalo de maneira a melhorar a saúde e bem-estar, e ainda a atingir novos objectivos.

Há 3 sessões por semana: segundas, quartas e sextas, sempre da parte da manhã. Cada aula é composta por um máximo de 4 utentes. A aula poderá durar entre uma hora e uma hora e meia. As idades dos utentes estão compreendidas entre os 6 e os 50+ anos. Os ajudantes (voluntários) são de todas as idades, mas principalmente pessoas já reformadas. Dito isto, teremos todo o gosto em receber voluntários de qualquer faixa etária, a quem daremos formação. Se estiver interessado em ajudar, é favor ir para a secção de ‘Voluntariado’ no nosso site.

A maior parte dos utentes necessita de três assistentes (um condutor de cavalo e dois caminhantes laterais), ou seja, são necessários entre 8 e 12 assistentes por cada aula.

As aulas são dadas por uma instrutora de equitação totalmente qualificada, Sue Wilson, a qual se formou em instrução de equitação para pessoas com deficiência, em Wrexham, na Inglaterra. 

Algumas das aulas são acompanhadas por uma fisioterapeuta & hipoterapeuta altamente qualificada, Ângela Mesquita, a qual já enviámos em três ocasiões para o Reino Unido para receber formação especializada de hipoterapia no Riding for the Disabled Diamond Centre. As custas dos cursos, bilhetes de avião, etc foram suportadas através do dinheiro angariado.

O hipismo é especialmente benéfico para alunos que padeçam de dificuldades de aprendizagem múltiplas e profundas, pois proporciona uma experiência multi-sensorial, a qual é muito difícil de recriar em qualquer outro ambiente. 

Para além dos benefícios físicos, os pais, professores e profissionais de saúde têm vindo a surpreender-se com as outras mais-valias que uma aula de equitação pode fazer sobressair nos utentes, tais como numeracia, ortografia, capacidade de escuta  e ainda aptidões na resolução de problemas.

Ângela, our qualified Physiotherapist and Hippotherapist

Ângela Mesquita, a nossa Fisioterapeuta e Hipoterapeuta qualificada

A instituição NECI, na Praia da Luz, o Lar de Santo Amaro, em Lagos, e a Ala de Autismo da Escola EB 2,3, de Algoz, são neste momento os três estabelecimentos dos quais provêm os nossos alunos. Dez alunos vêm da NECI, seis do Santo Amaro e seis do Algoz.

A escola de equitação e instalações que usamos fica situada na Quinta do Paraíso Alto, Bensafrim, que é um centro hípico registado.

Efectuamos uma avaliação prévia a todos os alunos, de forma a assegurar que a equitação é um desporto apropriado para cada caso. Tem de haver também consentimento por parte dos pais ou encarregados de educação.

É necessária ainda a apresentação de uma declaração assinada por um médico, declarando que o utente está apto a montar e a andar a cavalo.

Se desejar fazer voluntariado (não é necessário qualquer tipo de experiência prévia), é favor inscrever-se aqui.

Algumas fotografias tiradas nas aulas da RDB

Partilhar:
RDB Volunteer - Ann Margret Engstrom

Qualifications / Experience

  • Previous experience with horses

Joined RDB

2010

Ann-Margret Engstrom

Leader/Sidewalker

Ann-Margret has been volunteering at RDB as a leader/sidewalker for around 10 to 12 years. She used to have horses in Sweden and used to ride a lot, so by volunteering she gets her horse fix!

“Horses have always  been part of my life.
Riding schools once a week during my years of studies and thereafter three times a week sharing privately owned horses. Some Summers working in a stud. Driving one or two in hand. Lounging and a lot of fun riding in the fields and in the forests.
Good pastimes off work and a lot of laughter when mocking out chatting with friends doing the same. No competitions and quite a lot of private lessons.”
Clive Williams - a volunteer at RDB

Qualifications / Experience

  • Retired Electrical Contracts Manager

Joined RDB

2016

Clive Williams

Leader / Sidewalker & General Maintenance

I moved to Lagos in 2015 and joined RDB some time later having little or no experience  of working with horses or the disabled.

I enjoy the company of other volunteers and especially seeing the reaction of the riders.

My role at RDB is as a side walker or horse leader and the maintenance of the grounds and mechanical equipment.

My main pastime is sailing my yacht SHENANIGAN locally around the Algarve.

Screenshot 2022-01-23 at 22.43.16

Qualifications / Experience

  • Retired Nursery Nurse

Joined RDB

In 2022

Heather Piper

Leader / Sidewalker

I wanted to carry on using my skills acquired through life. Ponies, ponies, ponies as a child and teenager, then 40 years working with children of varying abilities in special school settings. Of which, 10 years spent with young people with hearing impairment and another 10 years working 1:1 with children and young adults with autism.

I love coming to RDB, everyone is so nice, friendly and cheerful!

IMG_1493 (1)

Qualifications / Experience

  • Joana has experience with horses

Joined RDB

At birth!

Joana Wilson Luz

Leader / Sidewalker

Joana is Sue Wilson‘s daughter and has grown up surrounded by horses at QPA. 

Joana has been helping out with RDB ever since she was tiny.

Joana loves seeing the progress the riders make and is a great help!

Rod Frew

Qualifications / Experience

  • Founder member of Algarve Wednesday Walkers
  • Founder of RDB

Joined RDB

2007

Rod Frew

President of the General Assembly

Rod is President of RDB and original founder along with Jinny Harman, Secretary.

Rod & Jinny set up the initial ‘Ride the Algarve Way’ fundraiser, an epic 240km 6-day marathon ride, which raised over €35.000,00 euros. These funds were split equally between Riding for the Disabled Barlavento, to set it up, and the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) Association. 

Jinny Harman

Qualifications / Experience

  • Owner of QPA
  • Founder of RDB
  • Over 30 years’ experience working with horses
  • Qualified trainer

Joined RDB

2007

Jinny Harman

Secretary

Jinny is Secretary of RDB and original founder along with Rod Frew, President of the General Assembly.

Rod & Jinny set up the initial ‘Ride the Algarve Way’ fundraiser, an epic 240km 6-day marathon ride, which raised over €35.000,00 euros. These funds were split equally between Riding for the Disabled Barlavento, to set it up, and the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) Association. 

Jinny is also owner of Quinta Paraíso Alto Riding Centre where the RDB sessions are held, and donates Sue, her Stable Manager, to RDB as a fully certified Trainer.

Jinny set up QPA in 1992 and has extensive knowledge and experience in working with horses.

Tenney

Qualifications / Experience

  • Treasurer for school PTAs &
  • Volunteered for RDA in the UK
  • Prior horse experience

Joined RDB

2020

Tenney Cotton

Treasurer

Tenney owned horses in the UK and has prior experience of volunteering for RDA in the UK, so as soon as she learned about RDB she joined the team and is now Treasurer.

Tenney volunteers on a Friday supporting private clients and feels that RDB is such a valuable resource for the kids.

“Being out in the fresh air, getting physiotherapy is so good for them. The children definitely get stronger physically but also their communication skills and confidence improves greatly. For example, I have seen a huge change with Bea during the time I have been helping her. Her communication and confidence has improved and I can see she is really enjoying it. Also, Bea’s core strength has developed greatly.”

Not only does Tenney loves supporting the children, she gets a workout whilst walking around the arena and gets her horse fix at the same time!

Denise

Qualifications / Experience

  • Denise worked in Community Care in the UK supporting autistic children plus has prior horse experience

Joined RDB

2019

Denise Kelly

Leader/Sidewalker

Denise has been volunteering at RDB since 2019. She had moved to the area and met Jinny and as soon as Jinny found out that Denise was a horse woman she signed her up!

Denise has two of her own horses still back in the UK and misses them greatly. She loves being around horses so volunteering enables that but she gets the most satisfaction from seeing the smiles on the riders’ faces. “Seeing their mobility improving and knowing you are helping and enriching their lives is very rewarding”.

Denise volunteers on a Friday between 9am & 12:30 pm, supporting individual riders and riders from NECI.

Maddie

Qualifications / Experience

  • Lawyer

Joined RDB

2008

Maddie Grossey

Committee President

Maddie had no previous experience with horses or working with people of physical or mental disabilities before joining RDB, which just goes to show that experience is not necessary to join our team! 

Maddie has been president now for around 5 years and is in charge of organising all the sessions. 

Maddie gets great satisfaction and happiness from seeing the delight on the faces of the riders.

Ângela, our qualified Physiotherapist and Hippotherapist

Qualificatções / Experiência

  • Formada em Fisioterapia desde 2006
  • Especialista em Neuropediatria e Desenvolvimento Infantil

Juntou-se à RDB em

2007

Ângela Mesquita

Fisioterapeuta

A Ângela tem trabalhado com a Associação de Equitação Adaptada do Barlavento desde 2007, inicialmente com formação de Auxiliar de Equitação Terapêutica, como técnica que acompanhava os Utentes da Instituição NECI, e desde 2018 com formação de Técnica de Equitação Terapêutica a trabalhar como Técnica Responsável pela Equitação Terapêutica da Associação.

Juntamente com a Sue Wilson, Monitora responsável de Equitação da Associação e do Centro Hípico, promovem competições de Equitação Adaptada pelo Algarve como responsáveis da EquiSpecialAlgarve, comissão organizadora de provas de Equitação Adaptada. Para além de promoverem a participação de vários Atletas com Deficiência, a competir no Special Olympic Portugal.

Sue Wilson Riding 4 Disabled Barlavento

Qualifications / Experience

  • Trainer in General Equitation, RDB and Equitação Adaptada
  • RDB trainer since 2003

Joined RDB

2003

Sue Wilson

Trainer

Sue has 30 years general equitation experience and has worked at Quinta Paraíso Alto for 23 years. Sue originally trained as an RDA trainer through the RDA in the UK and has implemented her knowledge at RDA in Portugal since 2003.

Sue’s favourite bit of working with the riders is all the smiles & hugs she receives! Some riders when they start at RDB are scared of the horses as they are much bigger animals to those that they are used to. Sue introduces them gently to the horses and slowly builds their trust.

Travelling to Abu Dhabi with the National Portuguese Special Olympics team was one of the highest points of Sue’s journey with RDB and an out of this world experience. Seeing Lucelia win medals, having been scared to even touch a horse when she first started, was simply incredible.

One memory that really sticks with Sue is something said to her by Eugênio, a past rider with RDB. When he was asked what he liked most about RDB Eugênio said, ‘when I’m on a horse I am walking again’. Sadly Eugenio is no longer with us, but to know that RDB helped him ‘walk again’ is validation of how important RDB is to the lives of those with physical, intellectual, emotional and social challenges.

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