The Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore (RDA) is most delighted to announce that Singaporean Laurentia Tan 29 years, has won yet another bronze medal for the Individual Freestyle Test Grade 1A last night (11 Sept 2008) at the 2008 Paralympics in Hong Kong with a score of 70.167%. She did this event to music although Laurentia suffers from profound deafness. The gold was won by the same persons who beat her in her other event 2 days ago with a score of 76.166% (Sophie Christiansen) and 73.333% (Anne Dunham). She narrowly beat the 4th place rider who had a score of 69.667%.
On 9 Sept 2008 Laurentia won the bronze medal for the Individual Championship Test Grade 1A. She achieved a score of 68.80% and this is the first time in history that Singapore has won a medal at the Paralympics. The gold was won by Anne Dunham of UK (73.10%) and the silver by Sophie Christiansen of UK (72.80%).
Laurentia, who was born in Singapore, suffers from cerebral palsy and profound deafness. She started riding at the RDA in England when she was 5 years old and she found the horse riding therapy most beneficial and so she continued riding till she was 18 years when she went to University to concentrate on her studies. After graduating with a degree in Hospitality Management & Tourism she started working as a mental health worker and did not start riding again until 2005.
She first rode at RDA Singapore in 2005 when she was visiting Singapore. In March 2007 she was encouraged by RDA Singapore to represent Singapore and compete in the FEI World Para Dressage Championships together with Maximillian Tan. RDA Singapore funded her expenses and it was at this competition that she managed to qualify for the Paralympics on the horse Nothing To Lose (aka Harvey). Ever since then she has been training hard in the UK under the supervision of Penny Pegrum, a volunteer RDA Instructor and spent a month of special training in Singapore in Oct 2007. All her training expenses in the UK and in Singapore in 2007 were funded by RDA Singapore.
RDA provides free therapy horse riding programs to children and adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. For someone who cannot walk, see or communicate riding a horse allows them to experience a new sense of freedom and independence. Our aim is to rehabilitate these people, especially children, to gain improved respiration & balance, better coordination and mobility of muscles, limbs and spine as well as improved communication skills & self-esteem and self-confidence through our unique therapy programs. Each year we assist more than 500 disabled people, mostly children. Those who are able to ride well are encouraged to take part in competitions and serve as a motivation to all the disabled riders.
RDA Singapore is an independent, registered non-profit charity and an IPC. We rely heavily on volunteers to run our programs six days a week and the day to day running costs of the centre are covered entirely by donations, sponsorships and our own fund raising efforts.
If you want to find out more please contact RDA Executive Director Mr. Eugene Lim at 62500176/98780911 or email him at elim@rdasingapore.org.sg. Or website www.rdasingapore.org