Riding for the Disabled Association provides many students who have a disability, the opportunity to ride and enjoy all the activities connected with horse riding. Riding for people with a disability is both therapeutic and recreational and RDA is in fact one of the few organisations who offer a multi-diagnostic service, catering for people with a wide range of disabilities.

The objectives of RDA are to encourage, support and assist Centres to provide riding therapy, sport, recreation, training and safety programs for people with disabilities. RDA programs cater for people with all kinds of disability including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairments and autism (to name just a few).

Horse riding is a unique form of exercise and rehabilitation. The complex movement of the horse helps to improve coordination, balance, muscular development and fitness. Horse riding and horse related activities assist greatly and often dramatically in the development and restoration of personal confidence, self esteem, communication skills, leadership and trust. For people with challenging behaviour for example horses offer a powerful medium for restoring a sense of personal control, which significantly improves behaviour towards family teachers and friends.