Menu
The RDA riding experience is interactive, fun and challenging. Riding provides participants with the physical, emotional, and social benefits that come from connecting with a horse.
Each rider attends a structured riding session, tailored to the participant’s needs and goals, helping to improve balance, coordination, and muscle strength, while also fostering confidence and independence.
Each session is supervised by our RDA accredited coaches and assisted by our specially trained volunteers who work closely with each rider to ensure a safe, supportive, and enjoyable experience.
Each coach carefully selects a horse that is best suited to the rider’s ability, size, weight, goals and disability. As riders develop a mutual trust and shared responsibility with the horse, it’s very important they work well together.
As a child grows or riders abilities change there may be a need to swap to a new horse if one is available.
For many of our participants RDA activity is their main way of accessing physical exercise, a recreational activity, where they enjoy freedom, movement, sensory feedback and skill development that they may not otherwise experience. For others it may become a competitive sport at a Local, State or National level. There are other pathways for those riders.
Benefits: Increased strength, improved posture, greater coordination, and a boost in confidence.
Who It’s For: Participants of all ages and abilities who are able to engage in mounted activities, with adaptations made as needed to accommodate individual needs.
Sebastian started riding at RDA Doveton when he was a student at Glenallen. He then returned to Doveton in 2018. Sebastian’s love of riding is so apparent, he puts in so much effort, always listening to instructions, trying his best, gentle with his horse, laughing with his helpers, offering to help where he can, he especially loves to assist with feeding his horse. He is a favourite with all the volunteers, he is cheeky but always polite, greeting everyone, including the other riders.
The exercise he gets from riding has vastly improved his overall strength and flexibility. Sebastian’s riding continues to improve, he is always challenging himself.
Exercise and active recreational riding activities in a challenging, fun, and supportive environment.
Regular riding improves core strength, balance and coordination and our welcoming groups help boost well–being and happiness.
All the benefits of riding for anyone unable to ride a horse or who want to extend their skills.
Led by accredited coaches using specialized vehicles and adapted harnesses.
This involves activities carried out on the ground, interacting with the horse, horse care, handling and groundwork and also motor skills and cognitive exercises some of which are similar to our Therapeutic Riding Programme.
All riders, at all levels of ability, are encouraged to participate in different events. Volunteers and coaches celebrate riders’ progress, share techniques, and enjoy a rich community experience.
