Charity
UK PonyCon has proudly supported Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) since 2009. All money donated in our charity auction goes to RDA.
Logo of Riding for the Disabled Association
What is RDA?
RDA is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with disabilities through spending time with horses. With the support of thousands of volunteers and qualified coaches, RDA has hundreds of centres all over the UK, supporting cities and remote rural areas. Through fun activities like riding and carriage driving, their beneficiaries experience the positive impact of their work; with significant improvements in physical and mental wellbeing, verbal and non-verbal communication, relationship building and confidence.
What do they do?
RDA focuses on ability, not disability, and exists to deliver therapy, achievement and enjoyment. They do this by giving individuals the opportunity to:
Reach therapeutic goals: improve posture and muscle tone, develop fine/gross motor movement.
Achieve personal ambitions: sit on a horse for the first time, learn new skills, win a Paralympic medal.
Combat social isolation: build relationships, enjoy events and competition, develop self-confidence.
Develop life skills: improve communication, take responsibility, be a team player.
Experience the outdoors: ride in the countryside, access rural Britain.
Connect with animals: bringing positivity and optimism, adding a new element to life.
What are their goals?
RDA’s key objective is to deliver beneficial therapy (both physical and psychosocial) to their riders, carriage drivers and vaulters, facilitating development in key aspects of their lives, including health, well-being and learning, whilst giving them the chance to experience a unique degree of independence and achievement that their disabilities would usually prevent them from experiencing in everyday life. Their aim is to increase the capacity of RDA to deliver more riding, carriage driving and vaulting opportunities to more adults and children. At present the majority of RDA Groups have a waiting list: for every one person who currently rides with them another four are waiting for the opportunity to do so and to experience the associated benefits. To achieve this there they need to invest heavily in volunteer recruitment, development and training.
Riding for the Disabled Association is a charity registered in England & Wales (no. 244108) and Scotland (no. SC039473).
UK PonyCon is not affiliated with or endorsed by Riding for the Disabled Association. UK PonyCon is not a charity.