Don’t Be Selfish! Give People the Opportunities You’d Want!

The RDA strives to help people with disabilities have one amazing experience that more able people can have easily – horse-riding.

Horse-riding is used in a very therapeutic way for people with disabilities as it builds up not only physical aspects for them, but also social aspects and how they relate to other people. From having a relationship, a ‘bond’, with your horse, it builds up the way you relate to people. It also builds them up strength-wise and they learn to have responsibilities.

Watching people with disabilities be able to have more freedom and develop in lots of ways is very rewarding. The RDA gives people with disabilities the push they need to develop and mature.

All the athletes chosen for the Paralympic games for horse-riding are trained through the RDA from when they are young. This is what a few of them said:

Emma: Riding was very important in getting me walking. Even now, although I’m riding for sport, it still plays a big part in my physical development. I was a little dot on a Shetland when I started. I’m 27 now.

Jo: Athens 2004 was incredible. It was a big eye opener – seeing how other people cope with disability, seeing what they achieved in other sports.

Anne: My first words were ‘trot trot’ apparently. It’s been in my blood all my life. I can’t imagine life without horses. After my disability I re-taught myself and rode side-saddle with RDA.

Ricky: We’re lucky in this country that we have RDA, because it’s proving now to work. Some countries haven’t got that support. We’ve got this system coming though from young riders and RDA is essential. We should build that bridge as much as possible between RDA and the Paras.

The RDA is run by 18,000 volunteers who give up their time for centres all over the UK. It is easy and good to help volunteer and you don’t have to know anything about horses and ponies. Whatever your skills there will be something for you to help with!

Please take the time to watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOkGePsBnh0&feature=channel&list=UL

Or if you’re rushed for time, this one is a bit shorter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXUwKmVLVqI