What We Do
Our Vision
Reach More Riders, Change More Lives
We provide riding therapy for children who:
Are physically challenged with conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, paraplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, brain injury, stroke or have visual and hearing impairment; or
Have intellectual disabilities or multiple disabilities; or
Have learning or behavioural difficulties; or
Other challenges or disadvantages.
Our Core Purpose
The Core Purpose of NZRDA is to provide interaction with horses to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people experiencing disability, or who have specific challenges or needs.
We aim to enable and support them to achieve good lives including meaningful participation in, and contribution to, important life activities and roles in their community.
Our Values
Safety, Teamwork, Respect, Quality, Enjoyment, Empathy
How does horse riding help?
Children with developmental issues gain stimulation in all areas of function, especially perceptual-motor skills, concentration, communication, confidence and social skills.
Children with physical disabilities benefit from the movement of the horse which improves their balance, postural control, co-ordination, strength, mobility, circulation and brain function.
Children with social and emotional challenges experience a calm focus and a learning experience that is uniquely powerful in many ways.
Click the arrow at the side to see more photos.
More about us
New Zealand Riding for the Disabled is a registered charity and the only internationally affiliated and recognised therapeutic horse-riding provider in New Zealand. We provide an accessible and meaningful participatory experience for riders.
Our individually tailored, goal-based riding sessions build emotional and physical strength and resilience and enhance and improve capability and capacity in our riders. They are delivered throughout New Zealand by our team of highly trained and trusted specialists who enable and support riders and their extended whanau.
We are recommended by medical professionals including physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
At Riding for the Disabled, we celebrate every individual’s unique abilities and focus on building capability, capacity and strength beyond the perceived limitations. The riders learn to move, adapt and succeed. This leads to a stronger sense of self that translates beyond the arena and into homes, schools and communities.
Our participants say RDA activity is the main way of accessing physical exercise that improves core strength, balance and coordination. The riders learn communication skills that in turn enhance confidence levels, relationship building, that can help to combat loneliness.
Riding for the Disabled is not pony rides in paddocks. We offer so much more. Our qualified specialist teams work with riders and their whanau to create goal-based programmes specific to each person’s unique abilities and designed to build their capability and capacity.
We have 48 affiliated Groups providing professional, high quality, safe and effective RDA programmes across the country.
We have been operating in New Zealand for more than 60 years.
Our Patron is HRH, The Princess Royal, Princess Anne.
Our Social Return on Investment shows for every $1 invested in NZRDA programmes delivers $3.20 of measurable good to New Zealand.
Source: Impact Lab NZRDA GoodMeasure Report June 2022
All/Riders and Whanau
Riding for the Disabled is a place where everyone feels they belong and is recognised for their unique abilities. We are driven by positive outcomes for the riders and their whanau. We offer encouragement, community connection and support and provide time out from life’s day to day challenges.
All RDA Groups must comply with an Independent Annual Operating Certificate to confirm they are meeting all their legal requirements regarding Health and Safety, Animal Welfare, NZRDA policy and process and the standards for the provision of a disability support service to those in our community.
In addition, all our coaches must hold, or be actively working towards, an NZRDA provided NZQA Therapeutic Coaching qualification that is supported by compulsory ongoing training and upskilling, so our people remain relevant, up to date and at the forefront of service provision.
This ensures the programmes we provide are effective, safe, professional, high quality and have a holistic approach to the challenges or needs of each individual rider.
Supporters
The need for our service is huge with 1 in 4 New Zealanders identifying as disabled. Riding for the Disabled enhances the lives of over 3,000 people who ride each year with the wide range of benefits extending out to their families, schools and communities. There is a long waiting list of people in need who would gain from our therapeutic horse-riding programmes. We need your help to reach more riders and change more lives!
We are a registered charity that receives very little government support and therefore relies on philanthropic and community support.
Money raised by Riding for the Disabled will help more disabled New Zealanders discover their unique abilities and be empowered to participate in important life activities and roles. It will also help us to connect their whanau to much needed avenues of support and community.
Being a supporter and investing in Riding for the Disabled brings so much joy. You enable riders and their whanau to experience the many benefits of therapeutic horse riding and provide time out from life’s day to day challenges.
Volunteers
You don’t necessarily have to be a ‘horse person’ to get involved! Riding for the Disabled values all kinds of kiwis to help us make a difference in the lives of the many people who face physical, intellectual, neurological, sensory or social and emotional challenges throughout New Zealand.
Riding for the Disabled provides opportunities for people who want to give back to their community, grow new friendships, gain new skills and have rewarding and fulfilling experiences. Whether you have a lot of time – or just a little – there are many ways you can be part of our friendly, welcoming and enthusiastic team.
Our Programmes
Therapy Programme
Our therapy programme is set for each rider in conjunction with an NZ registered therapist. Each rider will have a different required outcome. Through using riding skills, alternative positioning and saddles or equipment, riding helps stimulate all parts of the body, build muscle strength, improve coordination and balance and may improve walking ability. Riders in this programme usually have higher support needs, and often use wheelchairs. They have specific goals developed by a trained RDA coach and a therapist, to ensure they achieve the best outcome.
Education Programme
Our education programme focuses on school aged riders, with goals that are linked to the NZ curriculum such as supporting literacy and numeracy skills. The RDA environment and activities can be adapted to teach a wide range of educational skills and goals. Programmes are often aligned to their IEP goals (Individual Education Plans) that are developed as part of their school programme.
Sport & Recreation Programme
Our sport and recreational riding programme offer exercise and active recreation and leisure activities in a challenging, fun and supportive environment. All riders have individual set outcomes/goals, and these may include pathways to Pony Club, riding centres, Para-Equestrian or Special Olympics. Recreational riding can help maintain a rider’s independence and functionality.
All riders engage in either a therapeutic, educational or sport and recreation programme. However, we recognise most riders receive outcomes associated with more than one programme and can readily move between them.
Reminder – we are not therapists we work alongside therapists to provide our therapy programmes. We are not a mental health provider as we are not mental health experts.