Mary Selway-Swift Development Fund

Build on the legacy of Mary Selway-Swift

 

This fund was set up by the Riding for the Disabled Association(RDA) in Hong Kong with a bequest to HETI from the estate of the late Mary Selway-Swift.

Mary was involved in the field of therapeutic riding over many years – in the United Kingdom and in South-East Asia (specifically in Hong Kong and Singapore). It was Mary’s wish that this fund be used “to promote and improve the educational opportunities, training and quality of riding therapy through the development of therapeutic riding programmes internationally”. She was particularly concerned for those in developing countries, those in poor economic circumstances, or in places which have limited access to training opportunities.

About Mary Selway-Swift
Sister Chiara Hatton-Hall (former Secretary General of HETI, and well known to most people in the field of therapeutic riding) recalls Mary Selway-Swift with affection – her energy and commitment to the establishment of RDA in South East Asia will long be remembered in the region and by all those who knew and cared for her.

Sr Chiara reports:
“I first met Mary in 1985 when she asked me to come to Singapore to help with the Singapore Riding for the Disabled Association and introduced me to the British Executive Service Overseas who funded my visit . On arrival Mary took me to meet the Committee and showed me the Toyota car lent by Borneo Motors which was covered front, back and sides with the picture of a nun in a white habit on a black horse entitled “The Galloping Nun”. I would use this to drive to Bukit Tima Racecourse and to the Polo Club to teach each day! Mary knew how to promote the RDA !!

It was a wonderful two months during which time Mary arranged for me to go to Malaysia- to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang to encourage them to start the RDA there. Mary put her heart and soul into the RDA in Singapore where the first South East Asia Conference was held in 1990. Later the Selway-Swifts moved to Hong Kong when I stayed with them three times between 1987-1992.”

Mary set up the Hong Kong RDA Instructors Examinations at Pokfulam Riding School. She took her RDA Group Instructor’s Examination and passed with flying colours in West Mercia in 1996.

Mary sadly died on 7th October 2000. The legacy she left the HETI was for the development of training, sending instructors to those countries who were unable to afford travel and accommodate instructors who were accredited to the HETI.

The RDA in Hong Kong set up the Mary Selway-Swift Foundation in her memory after her death.

Application Process

  • Applicants are welcome all year round.
  • Any payments from the fund will be made on the recommendation of the HETI Executive Committee.
  • Any one grant will not exceed €1,000 (Euro).
  • Applications should have the support of a HETI  Member or relevant recognised organisation.

The fund will consider applications from those seeking assistance in two areas:

1. Reference Materials and Resources

         for the purchase of reference and training materials (books, video  and audio visual materials) 

2. Training Courses

         (a) Attend Course in a neighbouring country: assistance will be given for registration fees, published materials from the course.

         (b) Conduct a Training Course in the Country of the Applicant:

assistance will be given to invite a qualified person to conduct a local course.  Such assistance could include a course fee for the presenter and accommodation; published materials from the course; assistance with registration fees for course participants.Â