Benefits of Riding For The Disabled

Over time the benefits of Riding for the Disabled activities have become increasingly recognised by medical and educational establishments as a highly effective therapy which:

• a wide range of medical conditions can be improved
• is a unique and enjoyable form of therapy
• restricted lives can be given a new and different dimension
• independence and communication can be developed
• ten minutes on a horse contributes 1000 muscle movements
• riding gives over 24,000 children and adults an unforgettable experience each year, through RDA.
• horse riding offers an opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, friendship, laughter, achievement, independence and confidence.
• medical professionals recognise that there are also 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, 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 activity longer and often take up Carriage Driving when they can no longer ride.