Witley Jones recently had the pleasure of working with Cotswold RDA on a unique project to design and manufacture a sensory table for users of the Jackie Brutton Riding School.

They worked with the association during 2018; donating a number of lockers and storage units to help riders and staff, whose time and energy help generate a uniquely positive and ambitious attitude throughout the centre.

Based at Cheltenham Racecourse, Cotswold RDA encourages riders to achieve the best they can, regardless of age or disability – whether it be physical, mental or a learning difficulty.

They were asked to design and manufacture a sensory table, to help assist with interactive learning sessions, delivered by the group coaches to riders at the school.

Throughout the project, Witley Jones worked closely with Cotswold RDA, to ensure the design met their expectations and included all the desired features; as well as two of our suppliers – Arnold Laver and Tube Creation, who donated materials to help assist with our design and manufacturing process.

Neil Wyatt at Arnold Laver donated a brightly coloured laminate table top (Witley Jones machined this to cater for hardwearing plastic boxes) which now contain feeds, horse hair, stirrups and other tack that users can physically hold and discuss during each session. The plywood top is as much robust as it is decorative.

Since Witley Jones delivered the sensory table to the riding school, it has already been used and incorporated into the sessions; Claire Jenkins, General Manager at the Cotswold RDA made the following comment: “The sensory table has proved to be a huge hit and a very valuable resource for our learning and taster sessions. Our group coaches absolutely love it and gives them a structured area to back up the learning that happens in the lessons. Our riders really enjoy being able to experience the textures and feel of the different aspects”.