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Flis Marriott - Para Dressage, Bodmin (2026)

04/04/2026

Last weekend we ventured up to Sophie Wells for para academy. Super pleased we made it having only ridden together a hand full of times since the October weekend. Special thanks to Erme Valley Riding For The Disabled Ltd, Peggy for keeping me going inbetween my injuries on mechanical Jack and Bobby 🤗 and Holly for hacks on Ruin ❤️, alongside the gym 💪. We had a brilliant time on camp, learnt lots from all our sessions and enjoyed spending time with our para friends and their teams. We’ve got lots of hardwork ahead but we’re up for the challenge.

Thankyou Tasha Pearce, Sophie Wells OBE Dressage and everyone involved in running a great camp. 🌟

Thankyou Holly for all your hardwork, Emma for lending us your lorry, Sally for keeping the yard going, Frankie for helping Sally so Holly could be with us and Mum for helping to make this possible. 🌟🤗🌟🤗🌟

HMN Sporthorses, Griggs Equestrian, SPILLERS, NAF, Omega Equine, GLL Sport Foundation, Arctic ONE, , Vet Physio UK, Roberts Farriery, Hampton Equine Vets, Sharon Yelland, mentored by Mari Durward-Akhurst Para Dressage Rider

24/12/2025

🎄Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas🎄

14/11/2025

🚨 HUGE NEWS! 🚨

✨ We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Erme Valley Riding for the Disabled has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest honour a UK voluntary group can receive, equivalent to an MBE. ✨

We are especially proud to share that only 231 groups across the entire UK have received this prestigious award this year, and Erme Valley RDA is one of them. This places us among a select group of outstanding organisations whose work has made a truly exceptional impact on their communities.

This recognition marks the culmination of a year-long process, and we could not be prouder that our work has truly been recognised at this national level.

Peggy receiving her MBE in 2011 was a tremendous honour, but she has always hoped that the group itself would one day be acknowledged for its impact, dedication, and service to our community. Today, that dream has come true.

The nomination process began last December, with heartfelt citations kindly provided by Linda Leach, Joy Watts, and Deborah Burrell .We are deeply grateful to Charlotte Walliker, who nominated us and undertook the huge task of compiling extensive paperwork, figures and supporting evidence.

Over the following months, our application progressed to the Devon County officials, who visited the group on 17th February 2025. We were honoured to welcome Robin Barlow DL and Lady Sarah Lopes, who spent the entire day interviewing participants, volunteers, directors and members of our community. Their visit concluded with an in-depth discussion with our Treasurer Sue Johns and with Peggy.
From there, the nomination went to London for final consideration.

To receive this award is an immense honour and represents the pinnacle of recognition for a voluntary group like ours. It celebrates not only what we do, but the heart, dedication and spirit of every single person who has been part of our journey.

A huge thank you goes out to all our volunteers, riders, families, supporters and friends. Erme Valley RDA simply would not be what it is without you.

We would also like to give special recognition to those whose experience, professionalism and long-standing service have built the strong foundation we stand on today:
Joy Watts, Reverend Jane Lankester, Sue Johns, and Mary Mac.
Because of you, this charity has been able to grow, flourish and continue changing lives.

Today, we celebrate all of Erme Valley Riding for the Disabled.
This award belongs to every one of you. 💜🐴

WE DID IT! 🎉🎉🎉

. Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)

29/10/2025

We’ve had a brilliant first British Dressage Para Academy camp (Friday - Sunday) at Sophie Wells OBE Dressage yard with fellow riders and all our support teams. Thankyou Tasha Pearce and Sophie for all your hardwork ensuring the weekend ran smoothly 🌟. The facilities were excellent. The catering was first class and very yummy 😋.

We started Friday with a general catch-up with para friends old and new with their support teams over a meal and collected our folders. Saturday and Sunday were quite full on with Alice Elliott test riding and constructive feedback with video which was so useful, 2x Sophie lessons working on our feedback. We had informative lectures on profiling, planning and goal setting sessions with Emily Hedger, Physio with Cara McKinnon and interesting talks by Ruth Wyatt Saddlery, Claire Akers Dengie Nutritionist and Jules Wheatley FEI Steward. It was great to meet all of you and I collected notes and information which will help with our progression towards our goals.

A massive Thankyou to Holly for training Seran and me, looking after her 24/7, transporting her, mounting/dismouning, warming both of us up, and coming to lectures. Without you attending para academy would not be possible 🌟. Thankyou to mum for all that you’ve done too ❤️. Thankyou Sally and Frankie from looking after the yard and Emma a huge Thankyou for letting us use your lorry 🌟.

Extremely grateful to everyone behind the scenes who helps to keep both Seran and I going 🤗.

HMN Sporthorses Griggs Equestrian NAF Omega Equine SPILLERS GLL Sport Foundation Challenged Athletes Foundation Arctic ONE Vet Physio UK Hampton Equine Vets Roberts Farriery Sharon Yelland mentored by Mari Durward-Akhurst Para Dressage Rider

10/10/2025

Thankyou Zoe Squirrell for coming to Cornwall to spend time with us this week finishing off with coming to see Seran, Holly, Sally and all the horses and Jackson. Hope we haven’t tired you out too much. We’ll have to plan another visit soon. 🤗

03/10/2025

Competition numbers pouch all finished and I mended one of Seran’s stable rugs. Hopefully it’ll last a while longer now 🤞.

Pam and Harry popped in to see us with their new puppy Monty ❤️. Was great to see them. Pam introduced me to sewing about 2 years ago and lent me my first machine. Thankyou Pam.

Thankyou to Chris at Exeter Sewing Machine Company for all the help with matching me with the right machine for me and maintaining it.

03/10/2025

Not seeing Seran this weekend. The swelling has gone down and she a lot more comfortable 😊. Thankyou Hampton Equine Vets (Hetty) and Holly for getting her back on track and feeling better 🤗.

I’m doing some hand therapy instead. Making a little pouch for my competition numbers so they can live in with the white pads without risk of marks and extra washing. These projects take me hours but I love having things I know I’ve made that I find useful 🧵.

Gym session this afternoon.

23/09/2025

Since the Summer Semi Finals at Hartpury we’ve been working away behind the scenes getting ready for Wellington CPEDI. I was so pleased to have been selected. Seran sustained an injury a few weeks ago resulting in a fluid filled front leg. Hetty (Hampton Equine Vets) and Holly have trying their best to make Seran comfortable and sound but it’s not to be. Seran has to come first so we have declined our place for Wellington 😞.

Massively pleased to have been offered a place on Para Academy. Between now and para academy Seran will have a chance to rest. Whereas, I’ll be in the gym, doing workouts at home and on the mechanical horse doing my best to be the best I can be for Seran 💪.

22/08/2025

Great to be out competing at the Equissage Summer Para Championships at Hartpury Equine Events . It’s our first season competing at Grade 1 Grand Prix (Gold) level. We came 3rd in the Grade 1 FSM Grand Prix Championship and 2nd in a winter qualifier on Wednesday. Yesterday we competed in the FSM winter qualifier achieving 1st and 5th in the Grade 1 Grand Prix Semi final and have qualified for the final at Somerford Park Equine Centre.

Let’s just say it’s been challenging over the last 2 days with Seran. When she’s on form she’s awesome but on her off days she really tests my ability to ride her. She pulling me onto her shoulder and walked off with me twice which she hasn’t done for a few years 🤷‍♀️. Thanks to Sophie Wells OBE Dressage and Gabriella Blake Para Dressage for helping. After a bit change, inserting shims and a good warmup/schooling session from Holly on day 2 Seran didn’t try it again. I was challenged so much in our semi final test I lost where I was in the test so we did incur a rider error in there as well. Sack the jockey 🤦‍♀️. We know we can perform so much better so it’s frustrating that we could not demonstrate what we are capable of. Our score ranged from 65+% to 71+%. One of the judges commented that Seran was tactfully ridden which made me smile 😂.

Massive Thankyou to Holly Marianne Norris, Mum, Sally Norris, Frankie, Emma (for lending your lorry) and Dad for looking after the dogs (especially Annie who’s been poorly). Thankyou Mari Durward-Akhurst Para Dressage Rider and Zoe Squirrell for being there of me on messenger and voice. Without all of you the last 2 days wouldn’t have been possible. 🌟🤗🌟🤗🌟

Thankyou to all those behind the scenes that support us ❤️.

Griggs Equestrian, Omega Equine, NAF, SPILLERS, Arctic ONE, Challenged Athletes Foundation, GLL Sport Foundation, , Hampton Equine Vets, Vet Physio UK, Joel Roberts, Sharon Yelland, mentored by Mari

23/05/2025

Thankyou Prestige Equine for running para dressage classes last Friday. The venue worked well, easy access from car park to arenas to toilets, the food was lovely. We had a brilliant time and hope that you will continue to run para dressage classes going forwards. Prestige is only 20 minutes from us, so was ideal. Hopefully next time even more para riders will enter🤞.

We rode our Grade 1 Grand Prix Test B and achieved 68+% which was a good reflection of how we felt the test went. A new judge and only our 2nd attempt of this test. Thankyou for the constructive feedback and lovely comments. Lots to work on. A shorter warm up will be required for our next outing, especially in the very warm conditions.

Thankyou to:
Holly for transporting, warming Seran up, coaching me and grooming.
Sally for running the yard while we were away.
Emma for lending your 3.5 ton lorry.
Mum for all your help and support.

We‘ve been hacking around the field a few times recently, which Seran enjoys. This can only be done in dry conditions. It makes me work hard as she moves me more through my core and the hill makes me adjust my posture. It’s so nice to be able to do this with Seran as it makes her power forwards without realising she’s working quite so hard 😂. Poor Holly has to power walk through the longer grass.

HMN Sporthorses, Griggs Equestrian, SPILLERS, Omega Equine, NAF, GLL Sport Foundation, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Arctic ONE, Gwenen Therapies, Vet Physio UK, Hampton Equine Vets, Roberts Farriery, Pete Ravenhill, Colne Saddlery, Sharon Yelland, mentored by Mari Durward-Akhurst Para Dressage Rider

27/04/2025

Thankyou very much to Griggs Equestrian Sue for gifting Seran the NAF GastriAid supplements and Ben from Omega Equine for gifting the Omega Equine Boswellia Extra. Thankyou for your support. Much appreciated 🌟.

We were very lucky having dry rides. We hacked around the field on Friday and had an arena lesson on Saturday. Thankyou Holly 😊.

HMN Sporthorses, NAF, SPILLERS, GLL Sport Foundation, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Arctic ONE, Hampton Equine Vets, Vet Physio UK, Roberts Farriery, Colne Saddlery, Sharon Yelland, mentored by Mari Durward-Akhurst Para Dressage Rider

Flis Marriott - Para Dressage

04/04/2026

24/12/2025

14/11/2025

29/10/2025

10/10/2025

03/10/2025

03/10/2025

23/09/2025

22/08/2025

23/05/2025

27/04/2025

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