View source for Riding for the Disabled Association

{{Short description|Disability organisation based in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Riding for the Disabled Association
| formation                = 1969
| image                    = RDA logo green.jpg
| caption                  = "It's what you can do that counts."
| status                   = Charity
| headquarters             = Shrewley, Warwickshire
| leader_title             = President
| leader_name              = [[Princess Anne]]
| leader_title2            = CEO
| leader_name2             = Michael Bishop
| leader_title3            = 
| leader_name3             = 
| affiliations             = [[British Equestrian]]
| website                  = {{URL|rda.org.uk}}
}}

The '''Riding for the Disabled Association''' ('''RDA''') is a [[United Kingdom]] based charity founded in 1969<ref>{{EW charity|244108|Riding for the Disabled Association}}</ref> focused on providing therapeutic [[horse-riding]], [[equestrian vaulting]] and [[Driving (horse)|carriage driving]] lessons to people with developmental and physical disabilities as well seeking to improve the lives of those with mental health difficulties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Becky |date=2021-03-11 |title='Tea with a pony' sessions have power to help those with dementia |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/tea-with-a-pony-riding-for-the-disabled-sessions-have-power-to-help-those-with-dementia-739779 |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Horse & Hound |language=en}}</ref> [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]] has been the organisation's President since 1985.

The RDA is a federation of about 500 independent groups and serves over 26,500 adults and children each year<ref name="A Brief History of the RDA2">{{Cite web |title=Riding for the Disabled |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/riding-for-the-disabled-history-697615 |access-date=2022-02-18 |website=Horse and Hound |date=October 2019 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and is one of 16 members that make up [[British Equestrian Federation|British Equestrian]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Bodies |url=https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/about-us/governance/council |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=British Equestrian}}</ref>

Since 2013, the RDA in partnership with British Equestrian, accredits commercial riding schools with the Accessibility Mark.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=2018-03-01 |title=Why Ride at an Accessibility Mark Centre? |url=https://ablemagazine.co.uk/ride-accessibility-mark-centre/ |access-date=2022-02-18 |website=Able Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Beginnings of therapeutic riding ===
The first known mentions of the benefits of horse riding for disabled people are found in 600BC Greek literature.<ref>{{Cite web |title=When was equine therapy first used? – ici2016.org |url=https://ici2016.org/when-was-equine-therapy-first-used/ |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=ici2016.org}}</ref> The first study ascribed with value on the merits of equine-assisted therapy is then found in 1895 by French physician Cassaign who concluded that equine therapy helped certain neurological disorders.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-02-25 |title=Not just horsing around ... psychologists put their faith in equine therapies |url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/feb/26/horses-therapists-stress-autism-addiction |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

=== Founding of the RDA ===
In the 20th century, therapeutic horseback riding or [[equine-assisted therapy]], became popular across Europe after Dane [[Lis Hartel]], despite being paralyzed from the knees down by [[polio]], won the silver medal for Individual [[Dressage]] at the [[1952 Summer Olympics]].

Her success inspired therapeutic horseback riding organisations to be created across Europe and by 1964, a loose organisation called the Advisory Council on Riding for the Disabled<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=FIFTY YEARS OF THE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION |url=https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/52833/fifty-years-of-the-riding-for-the-disabled-association |website=UK Parliament}}</ref> was formed to coordinate these groups.

By 1966, 23 of these were present in the United Kingdom and by 1969 were organised formally in to Riding for the Disabled Association<ref name=":3" /> with [[Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk]] as its first president. In 1985 Princess Anne became RDA President, a position she still holds.<ref name="Scott 2005">{{cite book|last=Scott|first=N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mT1Aot5dRQwC&pg=PA17|title=Special Needs, Special Horses: A Guide to the Benefits of Therapeutic Riding|publisher=University of North Texas Press|year=2005|isbn=978-1-57441-190-4|series=Practical guide series|page=17|access-date=2020-02-07}}</ref>

[[Billy Strachan]], one of the pioneers of black civil rights in Britain, served as the secretary of the Harrow Branch.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-02-14 |title=Second World War Service and Sacrifice Billy Strachan (1921- 1998) |url=https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/second-world-war-service-and-sacrifice/billy-strachan-1921-1998/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Black History Month 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, the RDA celebrated its 50th anniversary.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=50 Faces to Celebrate 50 Years of RDA|url=https://www.thegaitpost.com/50-faces-celebrate-50-years-rda/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=The Gaitpost|date=16 December 2018 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Riding for the Disabled National Championships ==
Since 1985 regional qualifiers lead up to the Riding for the Disabled National Championships <ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Rachael |date=2023-07-15 |title=Hundreds competing at this weekend's RDA National Championships |url=https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/news/rda-national-championships-entries/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Your Horse |language=en}}</ref> which are held every year at Hartpury University and Hartpury College, Gloucester. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.hartpury.ac.uk/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Hartpury University and Hartpury College |language=en}}</ref> The events include ridden and non-ridden classes featuring [[Para-equestrian|dressage]], [[carriage driving]], the Countryside Challenge, [[Show jumping|showjumping]], vaulting and showing. <ref name=":2" />
== Milestones ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Milestone
|-
|1969
|The RDA is formally created.<ref name="A Brief History of the RDA2"/>
|-
|1971
|Princess Anne becomes RDA patron.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Ciara.Berry|date=2016-04-01|title=The Princess Royal and Riding for the Disabled|url=https://www.royal.uk/princess-royal-and-riding-disabled|access-date=2022-02-18|website=The Royal Family|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|1975
|Carriage driving becomes an RDA activity.<ref name="A Brief History of the RDA2"/>
|-
|1985
|The first National RDA Dressage Championships take place.<ref name="A Brief History of the RDA2"/>
|-
|1985
|Princess Anne becomes RDA President.<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1996
|[[Para-equestrian|Para dressage]] is included in the olympics.
|-
|2010 
|Showjumping is included as an activity.<ref name="A Brief History of the RDA2"/>
|-
|2013
|Endurance is added as an activity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-26|title=Celebration Week marks 50 years of enriching lives through horses|url=https://www.centralhorsenews.co.uk/posts/celebration-week-marks-50-years-enriching-lives-horses/|access-date=2022-02-18|website=Central Horse News|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|Creation of Accessibility Mark accreditation for commercial stables.<ref name=":22"/>
|-
|2014
|RDA features on a collection of Royal Mail stamps called 'Working Horses'.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Banks|first=Tom|date=2014-02-01|title=Royal Mail stamps celebrate working horses|url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/february-2014/royal-mail-stamps-celebrate-working-horses/|access-date=2022-02-18|website=Design Week|language=en-UK}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|The RDA celebrates its 50th anniversary.<ref name=":1" />
|-
|2022
|Human Equine Interaction Register ([https://hetifederation.org/heir-info/ HEIR]) is launched as part of wider group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Becky |date=2022-03-23 |title=New equine-assisted therapy register launches with Paralympian as patron |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/equine-assisted-therapy-register-launches-with-paralympian-as-patron-781416 |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=Horse & Hound |language=en}}</ref>
|}

== Notable successes ==
At the [[2012 Summer Paralympics|London 2012]], [[2016 Summer Paralympics|Rio 2016]]  and [[Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games|Tokyo 2020]] Paralympic Games all of the [[Team GB]] Para riders started out with RDA. The team consisted of Natasha Baker MBE,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Natasha Baker Paralympians Equestrian |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/natasha-baker-mbe |website=Paralympics GB}}</ref> [[Sophie Christiansen]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sophie Christiansen Paralympians Equestrian |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/sophie-christiansen-cbe |website=Paralympics GB}}</ref> [[Lee Pearson|Sir Lee Pearson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Lee Pearson Paralympics Equestrian |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/sir-lee-pearson-cbe |website=Paralympics GB}}</ref> and Sophie Wells MBE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sophie Wells MBE Paralympics Equestrian |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/sophie-wells-mbe |website=Paralympics GB}}</ref> For the Tokyo 2020 games Georgia Wilson<ref>{{Cite web |title=Georgia Wilson - Rioder Profile - British Equestrian |url=https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/teams/tokyo-2020/paralympic-squad/championship-rider/georgia-wilson |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=www.britishequestrian.org.uk}}</ref> joined the team in place of Sophie Christiansen. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Sophie Christiansen out of Paralympics due to 'veterinary issue' with horse |website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tokyo-wilson-para-georgia-beijing-b1901399.html}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.rda.org.uk}}
*[https://paralympics.org.uk/sports/equestrian Paralympics GB Equestrian]
*[https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/getinvolved/equestrian-sports/disabled-driving British Equestrian Para Driving]
*[https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/getinvolved/equestrian-sports/para-showjumping British Equestrian Para Showjumping]

{{British Equestrian Federation}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Equine therapies]]
[[Category:Equestrian organizations]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1969]]
[[Category:Disability organisations based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Parasports organizations]]
[[Category:Parasports in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Health charities in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Horses in the United Kingdom]]