Service Details:

The Group provides therapeutic programmes and horse riding activities to facilitate the training and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities whose physical and mental health is likely to benefit from such participation. Individual plans are prepared for all riders to address their needs and extend their skills.

Benefits include:
Physical mobility:	Improves balance and muscle tone
	Improves co-ordination
	Improves perception and spatial awareness
	Improves gross and fine motor skills
Learning skills:	Concentration and planning
	Horsemastership
Social skills:	Increases self esteem, improves self discipline
	Encourages communication, interaction and co-operation
	Promotes self-caring and independence
	Enjoyment and opportunity to compete in a recognised sport

For more detail see this PDF – ‘Benefits – How RDA works’ [146 KB]

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Riders:

Riders come to achieve a specific goal, whether it is therapeutic, educational, sporting or recreational:

Types of Disabilities:	Includes Cerebral palsy (varying type), Down syndrome, Spina bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple sclerosis, Visual and hearing loss, Speech impairment, Learning disabilities, Emotionally disturbed, Autism, CVA, Neurological injuries, ADHD, and multiple disabilities.
Numbers:	Each year, we provide approximately 2,000 hours of riding therapy for people with disabilities. We plan to increase our rider numbers by operating more rides during the week. We always have a long waiting list of people wanting to use our service.
Age:	All ages 90% of our riders are under the age of 16 years
Catchment Area:	South Eastern Auckland, including Manukau, Pakuranga, Panmure, Glen Innes, Howick, Manurewa, Papatoetoe, Clevedon, Beachlands, Maraetai, Whitford, and Papakura.
Sources of referral	SES/Hospitals/Mental health/schools/disability groups/ Community groups/doctors/therapists/counsellors/ACC/ Individual

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Procedure:

Initially a Referral Form has to be completed. A physiotherapist and/or instructors then assess the individual as to their suitability to ride.

They are then matched with an available horse. A parent's consent form and a medical form (signed by a doctor) is required before riding is started.

A regular review of each rider's progress is carried out by our physiotherapist and / or instructors. Some riders will always need assistance, others may eventually reach independence to enjoy riding as a recreation and sport.

Download the riders referral form [133 KB]