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"I first became involved with The Riding For Disabled in 2001 when my album "Dancing On Water" was released. There was a song on that particularly album that my sister Fiona had written called "When I Ride". The song was really about Fiona and my experiences growing up with horses and how free and wonderful we felt when we rode. We would spend nearly every waking hour with our horses and I can't remember a time in my early childhood right throughout our teenage years when we did not have horses around.
My Grandmother, Nanna Roberts was one of the first lady jockeys and rode quite a few winners around the Corryong region. My Mum grew up with horses and in fact at one stage Mum along with her sister and brother all rode horses to school!.
Some of my fondest memories are when my nanna, mum, myself and sister would all go riding together.
Horses have been a big part of our family. Every horse we ever owned had a personality of their own and all were so special in their unique way.
I received a letter from a young girl who was a rider at the RDA in Raymond Terrace NSW. She wrote me a lovely letter about how much she enjoyed her riding classes and went on to say that when she rode she felt "just like in the lyrics of my song When I Ride". She said "I feel like I can fly when I ride".
Not long after receiving that letter, the RDA contacted me and asked if I would be their Vice Patron to Princess Ann. I was absolutely honoured to receive such an invitation and accepted with a great deal of pride.
Since 2001 I have had some wonderful opportunities through my involvement with RDA. I particularly enjoy visiting many of the centres around Australia whilst I am on tour. It still is a great privilege for me and honour to be involved with RDA." Tania
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