Natalie Mountain started volunteering with Belvoir Vale RDA around 2017, when her own daughter suffered an acquired brain injury from encephalitis when she was just four years old and began sessions at the center. Natalie has since become a trustee and alongside her role as Trustee Secretary, Natalie is a full time civil servant, mum of two teenage daughters and life long equine devotee.
Beyond her own love of riding, Natalie has witnessed first hand the significant and real difference that RDA riding sessions make for participants and their families, both from a physical and emotional point of view.
Natalie says of her involvement with the center: “It’s hard put into a few words what Belvoir Vale RDA has given to me and to my family. For Edie, it’s assisted in her rehabilitation and ongoing development of her riding skills. It’s given her confidence and an opportunity to shine at regional and National competitions. For both girls it’s given them the ability to communicate well, to work as a part of a team, to be kind and empathetic and importantly to have lots of fun. For me it’s quite simply put the best hours of my week. It’s rewarding, hard work (I need the exercise!!!), fun, an escape and an absolute pleasure to work with our fabulous team, ponies and riders. It’s a very special place indeed.
