Riding for the disabled

Therapeutic Riding is often undertaken through the Riding for the Disabled Association. They continue to utilise the horse’s movement as in hippotherapy but combine this with a more active horse riding component. Lessons are normally with two or more people and have a focus on both fun and achievement.

Whereas in hippotherapy a simple pad is used over the horse, therapeutic riding progresses on to the use of a saddle and stirrups to progress the riding skills within the individual.

RDA activities as well as riding also include:

• Carriage driving
• Vaulting
• Endurance
• Show Jumping
• Links to the Paralympic Equestrian Teams

RDA track their outcomes in the six main areas of:

• Confidence
• Communication skills
• Enjoyment
• Relating to others
• Physical change
• Horsemanship