Working all week as an electoral agent for a Member of Parliament, Trish Green describes her time at Tauranga Riding for the Disabled as "escapism of the best kind".
Mrs Green has been a volunteer at RDA for the past year but grew up around horses with her father owning a
riding school in the United Kingdom.
She has also spent years working as a pony club instructor in Auckland.
Besides the chance to escape the office world, Mrs Green said she loves seeing the disabled riders introduced to horse riding as an activity at which they can achieve.
"Wouldn't everybody who teaches really want to teach them something when they really want to learn."
A wealth of equestrian knowledge and experience, prior to moving to Tauranga to work for Minister of Health Tony Ryall, Mrs Green also worked at the Ambury Park Centre for Riding Therapy in Auckland.
As a volunteer at Tauranga RDA she assists with three groups of riders each Saturday morning.
The list of chores to do is endless from catching horses to shovelling manure but Mrs Green said the huge pleasure was meeting the people at RDA.
"You spend time up there and it puts the whole of life in perspective."
Escaping into another world for one morning each week is something Mrs Green looks forward to as a chance to unwind.
"Sometimes it can be very therapeutic shovelling poo in the wheelbarrow," she said.
The highlight of her role as a volunteer is the response from the riders and wider RDA community.
"It's humbling sometimes, the strength that some of these incredible families have.
"What's nicer than putting a smile on on someone's face, there's nothing more rewarding than that. Plus you get to be with horses all day, it's a win, win every way."
Mrs Green also enjoyed seeing how much riding benefited disabled riders.
"They're having fun, and they're playing but they're actually getting exercise at the same time."
