Gaddesden Place Riding and Driving for the Disabled Group

Briden's Camp, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 6EX

Registered Charity Number 1074313

Gaddesden Place Group was formed in 1974 by Trina Hall.  Disabled riders rode for just one hour, once a week, but this grew rapidly until the Group became one of the first full time centres in the Hertfordshire area. 

With the support of the Halsey family who own the Gaddesden Estate and tireless fundraising, the Gaddesden Group were able to build the Indoor School and later the Viewing Area.

The picture shows the indoor school being opened by our RDA Patron – HRH The Princess Royal - in 1983.  This was followed with the opening of the viewing area in 1985.  It was named after the famous show jumper Caroline Bradley who helped get fundraising off the ground for the project.

The new facilities meant that riding would not be interrupted by the weather especially during the winter months – giving continuity, regular riding and its benefits.

For more than twenty-five years, Trina worked hard alongside many volunteer helpers to ensure every rider and driver achieved their full potential.  

Sadly Trina lost her battle with breast cancer in 2002 but not before asking her helpers to keep RDA going at Gaddesden Place.

Trina was a hard act to follow but the Trustees have worked together and with the continued support of Mr. Halsey have secured a new lease. We have also found sponsorship for new stables from a local company, have resurfaced the riding area and kept the Group going as a full time centre.

In 2006 we won the Dacorum Betty Lees award for excellence in volunteer management and in 2008 the "Valuing Volunteer Management in Hertfordshire" award.  We were also runners-up in the Herts Sports Partnership Paul Pearce Award for Disability Sport. 

At the end of 2008 we merged with Chiltern and District RDA Group which had been based at Chalgrave Manor.  They joined us with their two school groups, volunteers and Ben the pony.

Despite our continued growth, our survival is still very dependent on dedicated volunteer help, and fundraising. 

Here is the yard before our team of volunteers constructed five new stables, a tack room and a new mounting block.

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Gemma poses in her new residence. The old wheelchair access mounting ramp is just visible on the right of the picture.  It was replaced in 2008 with a hydraulic lift in the indoor school, pictured below.