The simple pleasure of working with horses is the cornerstone of all RDA’s activities. From that starting point everything else flows – be that freedom of movement, gaining confidence, building relationships, receiving life-enhancing physiotherapy or achieving individual goals.

Medical professionals recognise that there are significant therapeutic benefits for the rider. The warmth and three dimensional movement of the horse is transmitted through the rider’s body, gradually making it more relaxed and supple, strengthening core stability, reducing spasms and improving balance, posture and co-ordination.

Riding offers an element of risk, often denied to many people, especially those who have been affected by an accident or serious illness and offers them the chance to regain mobility and a sense of achievement. People with congenital disabilities discover a new freedom in movement. Those with progressive diseases can retain mobility and remain active for longer.

RDA mainstream activities are therapeutic riding, carriage driving and vaulting (gymnastics on horseback). We are regularly asked about hippotherapy which, in the UK, describes physiotherapy delivered via a horse by a specially trained Chartered Physiotherapist. Hippotherapists are scarce and hippotherapy is offered by very few RDA Groups.

To read an article ‘Understanding Hippotherapy’, written by Lauren Tate, please click on title under the blue ‘Contacts’ sign. The article defines, describes and explains hippotherapy in the UK context. It includes content from ACPTR (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Therapeutic Riding), RDA, Fortune Centre of Therapeutic Riding and hippotherapists. Written in straightforward language for both the non-expert and professional reader.