New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Inc

The NZRDA was established as an association of RDA Groups in 1972 and has grown to 50 independently managed and financed groups throughout New Zealand.  Each group varies in the direction of its service to disabled adults and children but the following areas are covered by the RDA movement throughout New Zealand:

• Therapeutic riding for the rehabilitation of physically and intellectually disabled people.

• Remedial or supplementary educational opportunities for the stimulation of learning skills.

• Behaviour modification

• Recreational and sport riding.

• Social contact with peers, disabled and able-bodied people and contact with trust in a large, warm, responsive, trained animal - the horse.

The Association provides training and advisory services to member RDA Groups and since 1988 has become involved with the Special Olympics Foundation.  The training of volunteers at group level is ongoing due to a turnover of volunteers because of the high time commitment and a desire to be constantly extending the riding programmes and motivation of riders.  This training is provided within the groups by regional training teams, all of whom work voluntarily.

Children and adults with the following disabilities participate in horse riding with the RDA groups in New Zealand. Riders number over 2400.

• Intellectually disabled

• Neurological (both congenital and acquired) including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple scelerosis, traumatic head injury, developmental delay.

• Multi-disabled

• Orthopaedic/muscular including muscular dystrophy

• Psychiatric and psycho/social including autism and emotional disorder.

• Auditory or visual impairment

• Respiratory including cystic fibrosis and asthma

• Accident and stroke victims

• Sensory/motor, perceptual motor or cognitive impairment

RDA groups operate from a variety of venues - owned land, local authority reserves, leased land, pony club grounds, riding schools and hospital grounds.  Many groups are developing excellent facilities with arenas, all-weather facilities, club rooms and some have extended their riding programmes to five or six days a week.  Several groups now have paid staff on a part-time or full-time basis.

 

Back to Table of Contents