Meet Scout, one of 400 horses that RDA works and care for, and an important team member! Scout makes an enormous difference for riders. He, like all our horses, has been carefully chosen for his unflappable temperament, trainability and patience.
What’s so amazing about horses? A horses walk mimics the human walk and they can walk up to one hundred beats per minute. As such, being on the back of a horse provides intensive therapy through movement.
Horses are also calming, warm and empathetic. They can have a positive effect on riders who have a heightened emotional sensitivity. The best classroom for a child is on the back of a horse!
For those riders who have high amounts of energy or are autistic, we can choose, if appropriate, to help turn the rider around so that they ride backwards on a faster moving, more active pony – helping the rider to be more calm, engaged, and have an opportunity to learn.
Equine Welfare – a good life for our RDA horses
Horses like Scout play such a crucial role in enriching lives.
The well-being of our horses is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing the highest standards of care ensuring our horses are healthy, engaged, willing and well supported.
Coach Claire says:
“Horses need to be doing enrichment and other tasks such as pole work, and lunging, to help keep them fit for purpose and strong, muscled up and able to carry riders and disabled riders without fatiguing or failing.”
Horses also need to be out and about at Pony Club, at the beach, around the farm, playing hoof ball, or playing in the paddocks with their herd.”
Regular health checks and consistency in training
In addition, there are regular health checks and maintenance checks to keep our horses in tip top shape. This may include regular body work, corrective shoeing, correctly fitted gear using qualified saddle fitters, or massage rugs. You name it – our horses get it! And all from appropriately qualified and trained professionals.
We work hard to find our horses; to train and integrate them into our programmes and it is vital to retain them in the programme and fit for purpose.
In addition, we train our staff and volunteers to ensure their safety and that of our horses. We ensure consistency in training and using “the RDA way” which includes respecting the horses and giving them both the space to do their jobs and the tools to do it.
For all horses, they appreciate good leading, clear communication, and instruction that aligns with the training they have been given. One example is good side walking and not leaning on the horse or inadvertently pinching them or prodding them.
The length of time that it takes to train a horse can vary from 6 weeks to 6 months.
A Positive Outcome for Riders
Therapeutic horse riding transforms riders’ lives.
Be part of that transformation.
You can give a gift today to help the well-being of our horses as they support and play such a crucial role in enriching lives.
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