Disabled Get Into Horsing Around

Horse riding is seeing a growth in popularity amongst disabled people as the sport proves it has many benefits besides exercise.

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is a charity which is helping to expand the reach of the sport to disabled children and adults across the UK.  The charity already boasts over 500 member groups which cater for over 30,000 disabled people.

Fantastic Therapy

As well as providing life-changing physiotherapy, horse riding and carriage driving with RDA can help to boost confidence and develop friendships and its activities offer a freedom of movement often denied to people with mobility issues.

Parent, Shirley Mowberry, whose daughter Claire has Downs Syndrome and has recently taken up horse riding through RDA, commented: “Horse riding is definitely one of the highlights of Claire’s week.  It’s been really good for her confidence and self-esteem to take part in something so special.

“Because of Clair’s physical limitations there are lots of things she can’t do and riding is her chance to do something within the family that no-one else does.”

All participants in the programmes are provided with specialist safety equipment to help make the sport as accessible as possible while ensuring an enjoyable day for everyone.  The expert instructors have been trained not only to teach those with special needs, but also to identify and develop the horses most naturally suited to working with disabled people.

If you are interested in finding out more about horse riding for disabled people or if you want to find a group near you visit Riding for the Disabled at www.rda.org.uk or call 0845 658 1082.