Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is a way for people with disabilities to enjoy the experience of being with horses whilst gaining therapeutic exercise.
Our classes have many benefits including:
Although RDA is a national organisation, each group is self-funded and run entirely by volunteers. The national association provide support for each group through advice and training, ensuring the group is working in compliance with the many guidelines surrounding health and safety, and providing the necessary insurance.
We are a group of mixed aged local people with a variety of knowledge and experience of horses. We all have a desire to spare a couple of hours each week to help and encourage the riders.
East Devon RDA (EDRDA) volunteers receive just as much pleasure from the classes as the riders. Each rider is assigned side-walkers and a horse leader in order to encourage and direct them to follow the coaching provided by the instructor.
To fully understand and professionally care for our riders, we maintain a progressive training plan for all volunteers. We run on Thursdays and Fridays with three classes each afternoon lasting half an hour. There are up to four riders per class which can require three volunteers per rider, depending on their disability.
Our horses are carefully chosen according to their temperament and suitability for our riders. We are fortunate to own a caring and lovable pony called Blue Jack, who everyone adores.
The other horses ridden - May, Apollo and Seamus from Hitts Barton and Sparky belonging to Tracey & Sarah.
