The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has been announced as Cornbury House Horse Trials’ official charity for 2023.
Enriching lives through horses, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) benefits the lives of over 17,000 disabled children and adults across the UK. Activities including riding and carriage driving. The charity provides therapy, fitness, skills development and opportunities for achievement, all of which is supported by 13,000 amazing volunteers and qualified coaches at nearly 500 RDA centres all over the UK.
The RDA will have a range of activities taking place across the site at Cornbury House Horse Trials this year, which runs from 6-10 September, and the partnership is designed as both a fundraising and awareness-boosting opportunity for the RDA.
Spectators can find a designated RDA stand on Saturday 9-Sunday 10 September, featuring the local New Yatt RDA group along with the RDA’s riding simulator, a mechanical horse fondly known as Charley. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the motion of riding a horse. Adults and children are welcome and donations encouraged.
Additionally, across the weekend, there will be some furry faces from Cotswold RDA visiting, showcasing the unique RDA nationwide initiative, Tea with a Pony. Tea with a Pony is a non-riding session that provides emotional wellbeing with notable therapeutic benefits. Meet some RDA ponies and find out about the benefits of Tea with a Pony and how you can become involved.
David Howden, Founder and President of Cornbury House Horse Trials said: “This is a very important and worthwhile charity which is close to my heart given my love of horses. I am very aware of the positive impact of horse therapy and the work that this charity and their team of volunteers do each year. We look forward to working with the RDA and their team to create a meaningful partnership which raises worthwhile funds.”
Lisa Davies, Head of Communications and Insight added: “RDA are delighted and proud to be a charity partner of Cornbury House Horse Trials and we look forward to introducing RDA to visitors at this prestigious event. Weekend visitors will be able to meet real RDA therapy ponies, or support our life changing work and ride mechanical dressage horse Charley! Local RDA Groups, New Yatt and Cotswold RDA, will be on hand to answer questions about our work providing opportunity, inclusion and fun for disabled people through equestrian activities. It looks set to be a fantastic event and we can’t wait!”