New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association
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Read more about New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association:
We help disabled people to build confidence and self-esteem, and increase their independence and well being through therapeutic riding and horse care.
We are a national not-for-profit organisation with 54 groups across NZ and 3,000 riders. We have a dedicated team of 1500 volunteers and 500 horses who make possible 1.5million horse rides per year. Our riders are not just children, but also young adults, and not just people with cerebral palsy or those who use a wheelchair. We also work with people with intellectual impairments or learning disabilities and teach everything from riding and horse care to numeracy and literacy.
You may not know that sitting on the back of a horse is like walking, and it is possible to use the multidimensional movement of the horse's walk as a treatment or physiotherapy tool. Children with cerebral palsy or down syndrome, or kids that use wheelchairs all day every day look like they have been made king of the castle, sitting up high on the back of the horse walking along confidently and beaming from ear to ear. They learn to improve the strength of their core muscles which helps with their posture, sitting, walking and ultimately their independence and ability to look after themselves.
The social skills and learning that comes from the session, such as working in groups, taking turns, following instructions, concentrating, listening and using good manners is extremely valuable, in addition to the physical therapy. The riders also learn horse mastership and vocational skills like how to take care of the horses, keep them clean and healthy, and assess their welfare. In this way we can also teach the riders how to take care of themselves, and stay clean, healthy and happy. Needless to say, a special bond grows between the horse and its rider, as they work together and succeed in achieving their goals.
Some of our riders train for the Para-Equestrian Championships, (where they compete internationally against other riders with physical disabilities), and other riders train and represent NZ at the Special Olympics, (against riders with intellectual disabilities).
All our riders have individual programmes and achieve specific goals, whether they are therapeutic, educational or sporting.
Riding develops, improves and promotes:
- Balance and co-ordination, posture and muscle tone
- Concentration, self discipline and self - esteem
- Perception and spatial awareness
- Communication and social skills
- Independence and encourages decision making
Winning a donation from Sovereign will help us achieve:
We would use a donation from Sovereign Sunshine on a project that would help all the groups across NZ, rather than just one region. We are fundraising for new display banners at the moment, which our groups borrow and use at fundraising events and competitions, to promote and build awareness for RDA. We would also like to purchase new equipment for our teams, for example last year we purchased new helmets for all regions. Our volunteer training manuals are also in need of review and reprinting, to make sure we are supporting our new team members with the best information possible.
Our details:
| Registration No: | CC38921 |
| Region: | Hawke's Bay/East Coast, Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Rotorua, Manawatu/Wanganui/Kapiti, Northland, Taranaki, Wellington, Auckland, Central Auckland, South Auckland, North Auckland, West Auckland, East Auckland, Canterbury/South Canterbury, Nelson/Marlborough, Otago/North Otago, Southland, West Coast |
| Category: | Children's disability support, Children's learning related disorders, Children's sports, recreation and arts |
| Contact Person: | Rachelle Perkins (Finance & Administration Officer ) |
| Address: | P O Box 58 110, Whitby, Porirua 5245 |
| Telephone: | 04 234 6090 |
| Email: | accounts@rda.org.nz |
| Website: | www.rda.org.nz |
| No. helped nationally: | 3000 |
| No. helped per project: | 3000 |
| Existing sponsors or funders: | SPARC, Ministry of Health |
