There can be no denying that the main focus of attention since last year’s AGM has been fundraising, with our members, Helpers and Riders looking forward to how things will be when we finally have the use of our improved facilities.

However, despite a huge effort from our membership it has become apparent that that day is a bit further off than we first anticipated. So the saying "Live old horse and you will get hay" is very apt.

In the meantime the busy life of Muirfield Group has continued apace. Rider numbers continue to grow despite our number of weekly riding places remaining at 96 spaces per week.

This has meant that the children have continued on a blocking system. We now have 9 Schools in the county sharing 3 spaces on a Tuesday Morning.

Next term we will be taking children for the whole day on a Tuesday.

Tuesday Afternoon Adult Riders have been informed that they will be go onto the blocking system with the rest of the Adult Riders.

We currently have approximately 34 Adult Riders who will use 14 slots while we will have around 150 Children using 80 slots. At present the demand from children for Riding Therapy is outstripping that from adults. So by doing this we are creating space for more children. This of course may well change in the future but we must try to match current demand with current suppply.

Wednesday Evening Riders, Teen- agers and young adults have had a good riding year including a winning entry in the RDA National Championship Musical Ride, with Hungariians on Horseback. The whole team were thrilled with this and our entry was shown at the Championships.

Friday Afternoon Riders sessions likewise have done really well. Kevin Kempton was the first recipient of a Trophy gifted by Alan Laing, in recognition of his improvement over the year. This was presented to him and his delighted granny at the Christmas Party.

Saturday Morning Riders, Children and Adults continue to thrive.

Four of our Riders compteted at the Drum Drssage Show on 1^{st June. Tracey Brown from Sdaturday Morning won 2 2ns while Paul White from Wednesday Evening was placed 1st in his class. Ronald and his entrie team did a marvellous job organising this outing.}

The Riding Therapy we deliver is guided by the advice of our two physiotherapists, Sarah and Heather, who assess each Riders needs and plans their therapy. Their input had been of great benefit to our Riders and makes the service we offer more professional. It is very reassuring to have their input to our volunteers.

We are very grateful to them and all 10 Instructors. This year Karen McKay, Shirley Duff and Anna Ross have all gained their RDA Group Instructors badges. In April, Ena Gaffney, our Regional Instructor, came to the arena and carried out three Annual Reviews. She also took the opportunity to look at our plans and was very impressed with the scope of the changes, which we hope will help address Training issues throughout the County and Region.

Several of our Instructors attended the Instructors’ Training Day and Conference in February at the Drum. There was a very useful exchange of information and plenty chat!

As well as organising a County Training Day at West Fenton in September, Muirfield Group has continued to have their pre-term Training Days, covering important issues such as Health & Safety, Horse Welfare and of course planning each Riders Therapy Plan for the Term ahead.

A number of our Helpers attended the RDA National Conference in Belfast in November. It was very interesting to hear all that is going on in the wider world of Riding Therapy.

Also in November Margaret Cameron and Susan Law had the pleasure of going to a very glitzy event in the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh to collect an award on behalf of the Group from The Radio Forth Awards. There was a lot of publicity around this, which was really useful in raising awareness about the Group and its fundraising activities.

Our team of Mentors has been working hard throughout the year keeping track of new volunteer training and completion of Green Cards, which lead to a Nationally accredited certificate.

Several of the Tuesday morning session attended an ASDAN Training Day held at West Fenton and the Drum in February. This scheme is similar to the NVQ system, giving children who are struggling to achieve academically, a chance to gain certification for more practical activities.

The ASDAN scheme can be used to motivate Helpers too, especially our Supported Volunteers. The different levels of certificate open this scheme up to many of our members and plans are being laid to further this scheme within the Group. We have found out that the ASDAN scheme, at certain levels, can gain volunteers points towards UCAS entry.

Of course we already have volunteers participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

In November we ran a Child Protection course at the Arena followed by another on 2nd. June. We are grateful for Rosemary Eaton for her efficient handling of the Disclosure Forms and guiding our Children and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy.

Through increased Fundraising activities the profile of the Group has been raised so we have been attracting new recruits – always welcome!

Not all of our volunteers come from horsey backgrounds so we need to give training in horse behaviour and human behaviour around horses. Heather Gibson, has been working with our helpers at ways to improve the way that we handle our ponies – her natural methods are giving great results. They are of course our most valueable asset.

These ponies can have a tough time, unbalanced weights, being crowded, being told one thing by the Rider on his back and another by the person leading them. Not all ponies are suitable for RDA work. One Hugo, who seemed ideal had to be returned so we have been quite short of equines over the last year.

Smartie and Sonic – well they have done well in the little pony category loved by their little Riders. Billy, Hjarrandi have been joined in the medium size by an a Eriskay pony called Sholto, kindly lent to us by Sarah Chalmers.

The three Highland ponies, Kishmul, Rocky and McGregor, are doing well.

Last year Sunny retired so Bibi is our only large animal now. Otis and Chester have had a good year too.

Our youngster Toby is coming on and will gradually do more work. Since January we have been looking for 2 new ponies but it is not easy.

As Chairman of the Group I would like to thank West Fenton Livery for their services and Jenny, Gill & Lesley for their care of our valuable hard working ponies.

I would also like to thank the ponies Sharers for their devotion to their animals. Not only does their "sponsorship" of the ponies help financially but the ponies all benefit from that special love lavished on them.

This last year has seen events coming thick and fast - Communication has proved a challenge – no sooner was a dairy of events produced than a new event popped up! Thank goodness for email. Almost all volunteers are kept informed, in this way, of all that is going on by their Session Communicator. I thank these ladies for their time in passing on information, sometimes with the speed of light!

At this date we have no similar system in place for Riders and communicating with those not on email can be patchy – especially if they do not look on the Notice board! This board has bristled with posters, lists and exhortations over the year.

The level of internal fundraising has been tremendous, indicative of the determination of the Group to forge ahead with the extension. Plans to build this year have proved somewhat optimistic!

Each of the six Sessions has really stepped up to the plate, coming up with a varied portfolio of events. Dare I hope that they have enjoyed doing so?

Please just cast your eye over the last year of fun, frolic and funding events. All of these events no matter how big or how small bear testament to the sheer hard work and sense of moving forward, improving our premises and in turn the excellence of the work we do.

This is not just about a building. This is about how we as a Group move forward and continue to improve in all areas of the life of this organisation.

Of course the delay in digging the first sod is disappointing, but no victory won too easily gives lasting pleasure. For the future of the Group, and all those who make up this group of dedicated individuals, we will continue to press on into the 18th. year of Muirfield RDA.

I finish this report my thanking you all for the hard work you have put in : instructing, sidewalking, administration, making cakes, printing posters, assessing riders, making tea, grooming ponies, selling tickets, sweeping up, enticing new volunteers, picking up poo! It is the sum of all parts which makes Muirfield Group so strong.

We face problems and challenges together. Here’s to the 18th. year of this wonderful group of people!