What is the RDA?
Riding for the Disabled Association is national charity. Through teaching horse riding, we are dedicated to improving the lives of those living with disabilities of all kinds. We exist to provide opportunity for therapy and achievement and aim for our riders to improve their mobility, control, listening skills and co-ordination, and encourage confidence and self-worth, but most importantly, we want our riders to have fun by learning a new skill in a safe and fun environment; the benefits of our work are enormous. As a national charity, we have an army of 18,000 volunteers (and we’re still growing), to give a helping hand to assist the 30,000 participates. We cater for beginners to people who ride internationally for Great Britain.
Our riders work towards grades and the chance to compete at regional and national events.
Bridgend R.D.A Group:
Bridgend County Group has a portfolio full of memories. Three of the most memorable are:
During the late 1970's and 1980's Rags, the pony bought in 1976 for the national R.D.A from the proceeds of a "Blue Peter" appeal, regularly visited us at Coity.
H.R.H. Princess Anne who has been the Patron of RDA since 1969 came for the official opening to Coity.
And in the days when Lloyds Bank was national RDA sponsors, their black horse visited us at Coity during the National Dressage Championship week.
Following the sad deaths of both Mr and Mrs Ladbrooke, we had to vacate Longacre Farm, Coity and look for a new home. We are now based at Bridgend College(Pencoed Campus).
We are now well into our second year at Pencoed College and we have settled in well, we own 1 horse and 5 are kindly loaned from the College or a private owner. Pencoed College have allowed us the use of their arena every week and have been extremely patient with us whilst we have been readjusting and settling in.
We run sessions in school term time on a Monday and Friday from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, we give free riding lessons to eight local schools, cater for riders from the age of six and we are always looking for volunteers to come along to our sessions to give a helping hand.
For many years now members of our group regularly enter the annual R.D.A National Championships at Hartpury with great success. This year one of our newer riders placed a 6th in Dressage and scored 77.7% in the Countryside Challenge.
In the lesson, our riders learn to walk and trot, they will learn facts about their horse, and play games. Some of our advanced riders will have the opportunity to learn to ride independently.
How are we funded?
As we receive no formal grants or funding we rely wholly on financial assistance from corporate or individual supporters to ensure our future. We have a dedicated fund-raising team who help raise money for us to keep running. In order to meet our costs for stabling, shoeing, vets bills, worming etc we need to raise approximately £8,000 a year.
2011/2012 – Bridgend County R.D.A are one of the chosen charities to be supported by (BCBC) Mayors Charity.
Please note Bridgend County R.D.A do not offer Carriage Driving.