Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is the nominated charity for this weekend’s Agria FEI European Eventing Championships, held at Blenheim Palace, and CEO Michael Bishop said it is a “fabulous opportunity” to share the charity’s important message.
The RDA works with 39,000 disabled people right across the UK every year. Some 14,000 volunteers and 2,500 horses and ponies make it possible.
Michael talks to Your Horse’s editor, Aimi Clark, in the following video:
‘Magic connection’
“Being here at Blenheim is fantastic for the RDA. RDA works with more than 39,000 disabled people right across the UK every year, but the magic that happens is that connection between people and horses, and nowhere really celebrates that connection between people and horses like a European Championships and particularly being here in the majestic setting of Blenheim Palace.
“It’s a fabulous opportunity for us as a charity to share our message, to celebrate with our existing supporters, and hopefully bring a few new people along into our world too.”
Extraordinary volunteers
“Those 39,000 people come from all ages, all walks of life, and we work with them through the therapeutic power that horses have. That might be in riding and carriage driving, the things that people traditionally might associate us with, but increasingly through lots of non -ridden activity, through learning what happens on the ground around the horses, and from that therapeutic relationship that happens between people and horses.
“All of that is driven by our remarkable volunteers. RDA has more than 14,000 extraordinary volunteers who are out there in all weathers making those activities happen.
Special ponies
“We wouldn’t be anywhere at all without our ponies. They’re the most important thing of the mix that makes it work.
“We work with more than 2,500 horses and ponies across the UK every year, and they come from all sorts of places. I think that’s the message that we’d really like to get out there is that we look for very similar things to any of us looking for horses to ride at home or competition horses.
“We need horses with a great temperament, because that means they can adapt to all the different situations they’re going to find themselves in working at RDA.
“Also of course great conformation so that they stand up to the work and can work with us in a way that benefits their welfare and works with the people that need their support.”
RDA at Blenheim
Over at the RDA stand at Blenheim this weekend is a mechanical horse called Charlie to ride. For every member of the public who takes part in the virtual ride challenge, Agria will donate £5 to the RDA.
Find out more about the RDA’s important work.
