Riding for the Disabled Association
{{Short description|Disability organisation based in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Riding for the Disabled Association
| formation = 1969
| image = RDA logo green.jpg
| caption = "It's what you can do that counts."
| status = Charity
| headquarters = Shrewley, Warwickshire
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Princess Anne
| leader_title2 = CEO
| leader_name2 = Michael Bishop
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| affiliations = British Equestrian
| website = {{URL|rda.org.uk}}
}}
The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is a United Kingdom based charity founded in 1969{{EW charity|244108|Riding for the Disabled Association}} focused on providing therapeutic horse-riding, equestrian vaulting and carriage driving lessons to people with developmental and physical disabilities as well seeking to improve the lives of those with mental health difficulties.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Becky |date=2021-03-11 |title='Tea with a pony' sessions have power to help those with dementia |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/tea-with-a-pony-riding-for-the-disabled-sessions-have-power-to-help-those-with-dementia-739779 |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Horse & Hound |language=en}} Princess Anne has been the organisation's President since 1985.
The RDA is a federation of about 500 independent groups and serves over 26,500 adults and children each year{{Cite web |title=Riding for the Disabled |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/riding-for-the-disabled-history-697615 |access-date=2022-02-18 |website=Horse and Hound |date=October 2019 |language=en-GB}} and is one of 16 members that make up British Equestrian.{{cite web |title=Member Bodies |url=https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/about-us/governance/council |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=British Equestrian}}
Since 2013, the RDA in partnership with British Equestrian, accredits commercial riding schools with the Accessibility Mark.{{Cite web |date=2018-03-01 |title=Why Ride at an Accessibility Mark Centre? |url=https://ablemagazine.co.uk/ride-accessibility-mark-centre/ |access-date=2022-02-18 |website=Able Magazine |language=en-US}}
History
= Beginnings of therapeutic riding =
The first known mentions of the benefits of horse riding for disabled people are found in 600BC Greek literature.{{Cite web |title=When was equine therapy first used? – ici2016.org |url=https://ici2016.org/when-was-equine-therapy-first-used/ |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=ici2016.org}} The first study ascribed with value on the merits of equine-assisted therapy is then found in 1895 by French physician Cassaign who concluded that equine therapy helped certain neurological disorders.{{Cite web |date=2012-02-25 |title=Not just horsing around ... psychologists put their faith in equine therapies |url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/feb/26/horses-therapists-stress-autism-addiction |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}
= Founding of the RDA =
In the 20th century, therapeutic horseback riding or equine-assisted therapy, became popular across Europe after Dane Lis Hartel, despite being paralyzed from the knees down by polio, won the silver medal for Individual Dressage at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Her success inspired therapeutic horseback riding organisations to be created across Europe and by 1964, a loose organisation called the Advisory Council on Riding for the Disabled{{Cite web |title=FIFTY YEARS OF THE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION |url=https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/52833/fifty-years-of-the-riding-for-the-disabled-association |website=UK Parliament}} was formed to coordinate these groups.
By 1966, 23 of these were present in the United Kingdom and by 1969 were organised formally in to Riding for the Disabled Association with Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk as its first president. In 1985 Princess Anne became RDA President, a position she still holds.{{cite book|last=Scott|first=N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mT1Aot5dRQwC&pg=PA17|title=Special Needs, Special Horses: A Guide to the Benefits of Therapeutic Riding|publisher=University of North Texas Press|year=2005|isbn=978-1-57441-190-4|series=Practical guide series|page=17|access-date=2020-02-07}}
Billy Strachan, one of the pioneers of black civil rights in Britain, served as the secretary of the Harrow Branch.{{Cite web |date=2008-02-14 |title=Second World War Service and Sacrifice Billy Strachan (1921- 1998) |url=https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/second-world-war-service-and-sacrifice/billy-strachan-1921-1998/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Black History Month 2024 |language=en}}
In 2019, the RDA celebrated its 50th anniversary.{{Cite web|title=50 Faces to Celebrate 50 Years of RDA|url=https://www.thegaitpost.com/50-faces-celebrate-50-years-rda/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=The Gaitpost|date=16 December 2018 |language=en-GB}}
Riding for the Disabled National Championships
Since 1985 regional qualifiers lead up to the Riding for the Disabled National Championships {{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Rachael |date=2023-07-15 |title=Hundreds competing at this weekend's RDA National Championships |url=https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/news/rda-national-championships-entries/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Your Horse |language=en}} which are held every year at Hartpury University and Hartpury College, Gloucester. {{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.hartpury.ac.uk/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Hartpury University and Hartpury College |language=en}} The events include ridden and non-ridden classes featuring dressage, carriage driving, the Countryside Challenge, showjumping, vaulting and showing.
Milestones
Notable successes
At the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games all of the Team GB Para riders started out with RDA. The team consisted of Natasha Baker MBE,{{Cite web |title=Natasha Baker Paralympians Equestrian |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/natasha-baker-mbe |website=Paralympics GB}} Sophie Christiansen,{{Cite web |title=Sophie Christiansen Paralympians Equestrian |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/sophie-christiansen-cbe |website=Paralympics GB}} Sir Lee Pearson{{Cite web |title=Sir Lee Pearson Paralympics Equestrian |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/sir-lee-pearson-cbe |website=Paralympics GB}} and Sophie Wells MBE.{{Cite web |title=Sophie Wells MBE Paralympics Equestrian |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/sophie-wells-mbe |website=Paralympics GB}} For the Tokyo 2020 games Georgia Wilson{{Cite web |title=Georgia Wilson - Rioder Profile - British Equestrian |url=https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/teams/tokyo-2020/paralympic-squad/championship-rider/georgia-wilson |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=www.britishequestrian.org.uk}} joined the team in place of Sophie Christiansen. {{Cite web |title=Sophie Christiansen out of Paralympics due to 'veterinary issue' with horse |website=Independent.co.uk |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tokyo-wilson-para-georgia-beijing-b1901399.html}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.rda.org.uk}}
- [https://paralympics.org.uk/sports/equestrian Paralympics GB Equestrian]
- [https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/getinvolved/equestrian-sports/disabled-driving British Equestrian Para Driving]
- [https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/getinvolved/equestrian-sports/para-showjumping British Equestrian Para Showjumping]
{{British Equestrian Federation}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Equestrian organizations
Category:1969 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Sports organizations established in 1969
Category:Disability organisations based in the United Kingdom
Category:Parasports organizations
Category:Parasports in the United Kingdom