Therapeutic Horse-Riding
Our core service is therapeutic horse riding and associated activities. We 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.
We use skilled professional coaches for our programme because they know how to challenge riders whilst ensuring a high degree of expert care and safety required for our riders’ individual challenges and needs. Our coaches also want to work closely with parents, other therapists, and teacher aides to ensure riders reap the full benefits of their riding and associated activities.
Sessions for each rider occur on a weekly basis for up to 30 minutes in length, depending on the level and ability of the client.
A large number of volunteers are required during sessions as there is normally one person in charge of leading and controlling the horse, and 1-2 side walkers supporting each rider, dependent on the riders ability. As clients become more capable and independent in their riding, the support from sidewalkers and the horse leader is reduced.
Acceptance of any rider in the programme is dependent on a number of factors including medical consent from a doctor as there as some contraindications for riding with some disabilities. Please note we do also have a weight limit of 75kg for any rider with a disability due the carrying capacity of our horses.
Due to increasing demand we do have a wait list. Riders are reviewed at the end of each term to determine if they have met their goals or may need to transition out of the programme.
Horse riding does have risks by its very nature, but at WRDA we are very careful to choose well trained, quiet, and proven horses, and we provide significant ongoing training for our coaches and volunteers. We are audited by NZRDA regularly and safety is our number one priority!
There are several external funders that will pay for programme fees for riders. Please ask us.
Testimonials
“I really valued the time at WRDA as time where I could watch …(my son)… enjoy mastering something that didn't come naturally but something he was actually achieving. Difficult to try and explain what I mean there, but so often he fails at what he tries and then stops trying. I took extreme pleasure in his starting independent riding and seeing him actually thinking ahead about what he had to do; the sheer joy of watching him achieve the tests we set him and so many of the 'little things' that we all take for granted but he has to work for was awesome. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes!”
“RDA continues to be a happy and safe space for our son to continue to grow his confidence, balance and co-ordination. There are many things he will try and achieve at RDA that he will not attempt outside of this environment.
He has full trust in the staff, volunteers and horses. Recently he has progressed to riding in the saddle and mounting his horse inside the arena using the mounting block. When approached to try these for the first time he had no hesitation. This amazed me as his mother, he is usually very shy, timid and nervous to try new and seemingly difficult things. For this reason I strongly believe RDA is a valuable asset to his development.
It gives him a sense of pride and confidence that he can do something his peers cannot, when often it can be the other way around. He continues to shine in the RDA environment.”
"Most of my injury rehabilitation activities are gym based, this can feel relentlessly hard, with tiny gains. Riding provides considerable physical challenges and has a lot to offer in terms of building strength, but the distraction of working with a lovely horse and focusing on the now of staying in the saddle is a really welcome point of difference. Instead of being consumed by how hard a movement is, my focus is more holistic and includes the horse as well as me. I wish I had known about RDA before my injury as I would have loved to volunteer at the RDA. Whether you are considering the RDA as someone who has a disability or as a volunteer, I can confidently say this is a special place with much to offer in so many ways."
“As a child with a combination of physical, communication and learning challenges life isn’t always easy for our son. He very rarely gets to experience real success, either in the classroom or the sports field.
This can knock his confidence and make him feel “less than” which is far from ideal. RDA has provided him with a unique (and unexpected!) platform to shine. He is loving the challenges and experiences RDA offers and he is just doing so well! Who knew we had a little horse rider in the family? RDA is genuinely the highlight of his week, and the confidence he builds each session travels with him as he works so hard to try and keep up everywhere else. As well as the physical benefits of riding each week, this elevated mana is just fantastic - a very welcome balm for an awesome little boy!
His teacher has commented that he is more resilient and confident in the classroom, and I am sure that’s helped by the weekly morale boost at RDA.”
Interested?
For more information please contact Wellington Riding for the Disabled Association Inc.
Phone (04) 237 5550 or email wellingtonrda@xtra.co.nz