Riding comes to Rosie's rescue as organisation celebrates half-century

Riding horses helps Rosie Treasure canter smoothly through life and rein back the challenges of autism and cerebral palsy.

The 22-year-old has her own horse, Kip, on the family farm at Penna, east of Hobart, but she’s learned all of her skills and developed ways to cope better with people, thanks to the work of the Riding for the Disabled Association.

Rosie and her mum Rachael Treasure attended an afternoon tea at Government House on Wednesday with RDA patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, to kick off the Association's 50th anniversary celebrations.

The event brought together Life Members, past and present board members, Centre committee members, coaches, dedicated volunteers, and participants from across the state to mark the significant milestone and reflect on half a century of community impact.

Rachael, who is a best-selling novelist, runs a small farm and both practices and promotes natural farming systems, said the RDA has been a big part of life for her family over the past decade, resulting in her becoming an official ambassador for the organisation.

“I’ve witnessed the growth of my own child and many others over the years, it really changes people’s lives for the better,” she said.

“I remember when Rosie, on her first day with RDA, met a lad named Tom who walked in with a trophy he won at a state championship - that really inspired her,” she said.

“She went on to ride at Werribee in Victoria in 2017 as part of the Tasmanian RDA team and rode a horse she had never met before – that was a fantastic experience she never would have got if we hadn’t become involved.” 

“It’s gave her the confidence to do so many other things.”

Rosie is a talented artist and prolific painter of animals and following three years of supported study in Visual Arts at TAFE has set up an online micro-business with the assistance of the NDIS, called Rosie Treasure Art – Paddock to Paint.

The farm sheep, working dogs, goat and horses all feature heavily in vivid colours that brighten any room.

She continues to study art and exhibit through Artosauras Gallery and Studios in Hobart and another more unusual venture is making and selling possum nests with her boyfriend Josh – providing possums with a new home when they’ve had to be evicted from a property.

Both Rachael and Rosie were members of the Tasmanian Produce Collective, including selling mutton and beef, eggs and lemons, until the Collective folded recently and abattoir closures got the better of the business.

Rachael has now returned to full-time writing, and in May released her ninth novel, Milking Time, which was long-listed for the Premier’s Prize for Fiction at the 2025 Tasmanian Literary Awards

The one constant in their lives has been the RDA.

Rosie’s favourite horse at RDA Kalang Centre at Glenorchy is Bobby, a Clydesdale cross who is a retired Salamanca cart horse.

“My coach gets me to do little things on him every week and sometimes I ride other horses,” she said.

“It might be something like opening a gate on the horse or getting the horse to bend in a certain way by using my whole body, not just the reins.

“Sometimes we’ll play games, like traffic lights, and someone will hold up traffic signs which is fun.

“My coach says if I can’t communicate with a horse how can I communicate with people?”

Rosie is lucky to have access to a special sensory trail through the RDA, where the riding trail is flanked by fragrant native plants and it meanders through hills, over bridges, over logs and around ponds.

“Really we’re both just bush riders and like to trundle along behind a mob of sheep, but RDA offers us so much more,” Rachael said.

“As a mum it’s been great to connect with other mums who care for children with disabilities, who really understand what it means to be a full-time parent and carer - I’ve made life-long friends.

“They always need more volunteers, more reliable horses for participants and hay for the horses.”

RDA Tasmania Executive Officer, Claudia Nevah, is also Rosie’s coach and she said that the volunteers are the backbone of RDA Tasmania.

“Their commitment and generosity shape every success story we’ve witnessed over the years,” she said.

“The gathering at Government House was a chance to recognise their contribution and celebrate the difference they make, week after week.”

On October 11, the organisation will host an open day at its Glenorchy Centre, welcoming the public to learn more about its work and meet the team.

The celebrations will culminate with a Gala Dinner on November 15, hosted by local entertainer John X, with a silent auction led by auctioneer extraordinaire Hank Petrusma.

This year, RDA Tasmania is also running a community storytelling campaign to collect memories from past and present volunteers, participants, and supporters.

Anyone interested in sharing their RDA Tasmania story or learning about volunteering is invited to contact Executive Officer Claudia Nevah on 0429 943 247, admin@rdatas.org.au.