Charity Focus: Riding for the Disabled

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is an equestrian charity for riders and carriage drivers.

With 500 centres set up all over the UK, the charity helps over 25,000 disabled children and adults in a variety of ways.

Making a Difference

18,000 volunteers and qualified coaches across the centres help members with a range of physical and learning difficulties to improve their fitness, skills and development.

Rising Star

Darren Ashton, who has Friedreichs Ataxia, is one rider who has benefited from the dedicated coaches and volunteers at the RDA. He even claimed the coveted title of ‘Rider of the Year’. His RDA coach, Kady Chatman, explains: “Darren embodies everything that RDA stands for. The progress he has made in his riding ability and

RDA could see my potential as a young athlete and supported me every step of the way to the Paralympics. “

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technical ability, the success that he’s made at competition. But more than that is the progress he has made in himself – coming to terms with his condition and what he can do.” Darren agrees and credits the club for his resilience and being the “light at the end of the tunnel”. Since joining the club, Darren, who uses a wheelchair, has improved his balance and core strength so much that he’s now an independent rider. He said: “Whatever’s thrown at me I can overcome it if I just try”.

Riding Strong

The charity has just celebrated its 50th anniversary and continues to grow from strength to strength. Alongside meeting the momentous milestone, the RDA also opened its first National Training Centre in Warwickshire. The brandnew state of the art training centre will allow the RDA to continue to focus on “bringing the therapy, achievement and fun of horses to as many people as we can.” President of the RDA, Princess Anne, who cut the red ribbon on the opening day of the centre said: “The National Training Centre will ensure we can maintain our high standards and develop our training programmes to ensure the best possible experience for RDA’s riders and carriage drivers long into the future.”

Homegrown Talent

Equestrian and Paralympian, Sophie Christiansen, CBE, has also given her support to the new centre. With eight gold medals to her name, Sophie credits the RDA as a big part of her success. Sophie explains: “RDA could see my potential as a young athlete and supported me every step of the way to the Paralympics.”

Why not check out the RDA magazine? It’s full of news from their groups all across the UK: A \\\

www.rda.org.uk/ rda-magazine