Riding for the Disabled Association
What is the RDA?
The Bridgend (Coity) RDA is part of the national Riding for the Disabled Association and as such we are dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities, through riding. The aim of our charity is to give disabled children horse riding experience, which delivers a real and lasting therapy that not only benefits mobility and co-ordination, but encourages confidence and self worth whilst having fun.
We cater for many different mental and physical disabilities, from age 6.
History of the Bridgend RDA group
Our group was started in 1969 by the late Barbara Ladbrooke, who had three ponies available, when she offered riding sessions to visually impaired children who attended Bridgend Blind School and 4 pupils referred from the local hospital. Since then, the group has grown to 10 ponies and we currently provide lessons for over 70 children each week.
From 1978 we have run summer holidays where children spend up to a week at the centre. These were originally residential holidays but alas, health and safety regulations make this impossible these days. However, non-residential holidays still feature as an annual event. During their week with us, the riders have the opportunity to care for "their" pony, in addition to riding. They also take part in various activities that they may never have done in their weekly riding sessions, such as grooming and cleaning tack. During the late 1970's and 1980's Rags (the pony bought in 1976 for the national RDA from the proceeds of a "Blue Peter" appeal) regularly visited Coity especially for the annual holiday. All holidays are run by volunteers.
The group has had a few famous visitors including H.R.H. The Princess Anne who has been the Patron of RDA since 1969 and, in the days when Lloyds Bank were national RDA sponsors, their black horse visited us during the National Dressage Championship week.
Members of our group regularly enter the RDA National Dressage Championships at Hartpury with great success.
Our success as a group and the contribution we make to the local community has recently been recognised for a second time by national head quarters, when we were presented with the Jubilee Saddle (the group was first given the original saddle in 1977). This second saddle was purpose made by a local master saddler, specifically for the pony of our choice.
In addition to fund-raising for our group alone, we also take part in national RDA fund-raising schemes, one such event being "Pennies for Ponies". Our group collected the most pennies for national funds and as a result we won a rocking horse, donated by Haddon Rocking Horses Ltd. This was presented to us by David Broom at the Badminton Horse Trials in 1978 and is still enjoyed by the disabled riders when they are not on one of our ponies!
Where are we based?
Our purpose-built riding school is situated in the village of Coity near Bridgend, in South Wales. The facility includes an indoor riding school, lecture room, kitchen, toilets and stables.
We currently have 10 ponies, with a dedicated group of volunteers to care for them, and to teach our riders.
How are we funded?
Riding for the Disabled Association receives no formal grants or funding. We therefore depend on financial assistance from corporate or individual supporters to ensure our future. We are fortunate to have support from some loyal sponsors and we also have a dedicated fund-raising team who help raise money for us.
Normal Sessions
Riding sessions are held on:
- Wednesdays: 9.45am - 12.00pm
- Wednesdays: 5.30pm - 6.30pm
- Thursdays: 1.00pm - 3.00 pm
For advanced riders, a session is held on Tuesday evenings, volunteers permitting. The riders for this class are selected from our normal sessions.
Volunteers
All RDA groups rely on volunteers. Each week we give riding lessons to over 70 disabled children in our purpose-built centre. Our riders enjoy their lessons immensely and benefit greatly from this form of exercise. We have many names on our waiting list and in order to continue giving lessons to our present riders, we are urgently looking for more volunteers.
Could you spare a couple of hours each week, during term time only, to help someone enjoy a riding lesson? You do not need to be knowledgeable about horses or have experience working with disabled people - just enthusiasm and a willingness to help the riders to enjoy their riding. Training is provided for all our helpers.
Contact Us
phone
(07984) 383416
post
jazz in the field
Long Acre Farm
Coity
Bridgend
CF35 6BN