Benefits of Riding

Our Riders attend riding to achieve a specific goal, whether it is therapeutic, educational or sporting. Riding develops, improves and promotes:

• Balance and coordination, posture and muscle tone
• Concentration, self discipline and self-esteem
• Perception and spatial awareness
• Communication and social skills
• Independence and encourages decision making

Types of Disabilities

Riding for the Disabled caters for people of all ages who:

• Are physically challenged with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, paraplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or have visual or hearing impairment
• Have intellectual disabilities or multiple disabilities
• Have learning disabilities

NZRDA Education Programmes

For Riders

Riders who come to RDA for education reasons have inpidual goals set and are usually accompanied by their teacher aides. Riding at RDA can begin a process of good learning habits which will follow a student back into the classroom. RDA provides an environment where learning is a coincidental extra to the fun had by students when they perform tasks set by their coach or instructor. Learning about, caring for and riding horses is different to other forms of learning and is kinesthetic in nature and will engage children quickly and hold attention long after the session is over.

For Coaches

 For Equestrian Coaches, providing horse riding lessons is simply one part of the services provided by RDA Groups throughout the world. Riding at RDA is adapted in different fields, education and psychology, therapy and rehabilitation and sport and recreation. For more information on the educational opportunities for coaches offered by NZRDA please contact us.

For Therapists

Registered New Zealand Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists who hold a current New Zealand Practicing Certificate can work in a RDA Group and provide programme advice and support to the RDA Coach or Instructor. For further information on education opportunities with NZRDA please contact us.

NZRDA Therapy

Equine Assisted Therapy and Rehabilitation

The horses movement is used in specialised techniques such as Hippotherapy. The movement of the horse is used as a treatment tool by physical and occupational therapists to address impairment in inpidual clients. RDA provides therapeutic horse related activities for clients with physical, mental, cognitive, social or behavioural needs, for therapy. This includes riding, horse mastership and vocational skills.

Hippotherapy: "Treatment with the Help of the Horse"

Hippotherapy is a treatment technique in which the horses movement provides a foundation of improved neuromotor function and sensory processing, that can be generalised to a wide variety of activities outside treatment. It does not teach specific horse riding skills and is carried out by a therapist and horse handler who are trained and accredited as a team.

The multi dimensional movement of the horse provides an experience similar to that of the human walk. Horse riding externally manipulates the muscle groups required to walk, bend and sit up straight amongst others. As a therapy technique we find RDA programmes do compliment other therapeutic techniques and help inpiduals towards recovery and independence.

Information for Therapists

Role of a Therapist

Registered therapists such as Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech Language Therapists work within the RDA setting, using the horse as a treatment tool.

Therapists are involved in:

• Sending and screening appropriate referrals
• Assessment of potential riders
• Regular review of riders and their programmes
• Assisting in matching the rider to an appropriate horse
• Consultation with other professionals involved with the rider to ensure a coordinated programme
• Goal setting and programme planning for inpidual riders
• Acting as a resource for the riding team in health, therapy and disability

So how does it work?

The results are clear ... But have you ever been asked to explain how they happened?

How does riding improve balance? The horse provides a comfortable base of support upon which a person who is unstable on his/her own legs can learn to balance. Riding is a dynamic movement activity. The movement of the horse gently shifts the rider off balance and back to the centre, facilitating rhythmical contraction and relaxation of the muscles in the body. Changes in the horse's movement, direction or pace grades the degree to which the rider's balance is challenged.

How does riding improve muscle strength? Pleasure in riding provides incentive to repeat and persist with otherwise boring exercises. Many activities on or associated with the horse can be used to promote strength and endurance.

How does riding improve co-ordination skills? Successful horse riding involves every part of the body working in constantly changing combinations of movements. Therefore it is the co-ordination of every part of the body that is challenged when the rider moves with and controls the horse. On a horse, postural background and gross motor skills are emphasised in support of refining fine motor and other skills.

How is riding good exercise? Some people with disabilities have difficulty finding physical recreational activities that offer the quality of exercise that riding provides. Horse-riding may be their only source of continuous activity and regular exercise that they can participate in. Riding involves all of the muscles of the body and in addition stimulates all the body systems. It can also be a relaxing activity as it is an enjoyable activity that encourages active muscle work and deep breathing.

How does riding facilitate the relaxation of high muscle tone...? High muscle tone prevents a person from initiating co-ordinated movements of the body. Relaxation facilitates improved balance, posture and co-ordination. The continuous, smooth, rhythmical movement of the horse promotes this relaxation. The natural warmth of the horse also facilitates stretching and careful positioning helps to inhibit any reflexes that may be present.

... or normalise low muscle tone? The strong dynamic movement of the horse provides proprioceptive and vestibular input that effectively facilitates an increase in low muscle tone. The up and down movement enhances joint approximation and contraction of the deep postural muscles. Changing the horse's tempo and direction as well as doing exercises on the horse combine this natural impact of the horse's movement with functional activities.

How does riding improve posture? Horse riding gives symmetrical exercise to the body in response to the horse's movement. Muscles on either side of the spine are exercised equally promoting good postural alignment. Tactile input received through the base of the spine while sitting astride a horse also naturally facilitates an upright posture. In addition, the activities used in the programme help to improve trunk control and balance and therefore increase the strength and endurance of the postural muscles.

How does riding improve gait (walking ability)? The horse as a modality for gait training has no equal counterpart. No apparatus has been developed to replicate the unimpeded, repetitive motions the horse imparts to a rider. The movement of the horse causes the rider's pelvis, trunk and shoulder girdle to react in ways very similar to those produced by the human walk. Automatic weight shifts occur in the rider in response to the horse's movement, which is an important sensation for riders with asymmetrical weight bearing patterns. The horse is also invaluable in providing the feeling of proper stride length.

How does riding improve communication skills? To communicate, children need to learn the basic aspects of communication: speech, facial expressions, body language, signing and gesture. They also need appropriate opportunities (an attentive listener who responds to them), reasons (they make requests, ask questions, give information and share their feelings) and the confidence to express themselves. Riders learn basic commands to get their horse to go and stop. The horse willingly responds to their instructions and therefore provides the positive reinforcement that motivates them to continue to make their requests.

How does riding improve social skills? Bonding with a horse assists in bonding with humans because the horse becomes a friend to interact with, care for and develop a partnership with. The horse will accept a rider with no prejudgment. The horse will tolerate behaviour from a rider that humans find difficult to accept. It immediately returns kindness and affection and willingly responds to the rider's requests. Also, learning to control the horse encourages the rider to control themselves and they become motivated to follow the instructions, co-operate, take turns, share and abide by the rules which are important social skills developed through riding. Children can actively rehearse these skills and are rewarded by the horse's response.

How does riding improve concentration? Inattention is probably the most common reason for a child not achieving their full potential. An incentive to concentrate and achieve is provided by a horse's willing response to the rider's instructions and success in something can be guaranteed. Many children have an arousal level that is greater or lesser than the optimum. The horse's movement can be graded to stimulate attention to a specific activity by either elevating or reducing the rider's level of arousal.

How does riding improve perceptual motor skills? Perceptual motor learning involves all the senses i.e. sight, hearing, touch etc. Perception is the recognition of this sensory information. We use this information to organise, memorise, acquire knowledge, make judgements and problem solve. The riding environment, by its very nature, facilitates a multi-sensory approach. Riders actively participate in functional activities which motivate them to accept and explore the sensations and concepts presented during their sessions.

How does riding improve self-confidence? Riding must be one of the few activities where people can achieve instant success, they get it right and the horse responds. This motivates them to try again and gradually their confidence grows. Riders are also empowered by the sense of control they have over a horse, by mastering skills and achieving their goals. This gives their self-esteem an incredible boost.

Sport & Recreation

Riders with disabilities can, and do compete in able bodied competition. The equestrian sport has many options for Riders' with disabilities.

RDA

Learning to ride at RDA involoves working with a therapist and riding instructor through a specifically designed programme to achieve independent riding which is the goal for many riders at RDA.

Riders can advance through the RDA achievement certificates which once completed are equivalent to The New Zealand Pony Club's "D" Certificate.

New Zealand Pony Club

Many riders once they achieve independent riding can go to Pony Club. Often they will be accompanied by a volunteer and/or their RDA Coach to help achieve a successful transition. Often riders require a helper to go to Pony Club indefinitely and RDA encourages the rider to find supporters who are willing to help them.

RDA owned or leased horses are allowed to be taken to Pony Club and is often part of the horse training and fitness programmes. Many Pony Clubs have horses available for riders to borrow.

Find out more about Pony Club in New Zealand.

Read the NZPCA Riders with a Disability Policy.