Those of you who have been part of PolyJumps for a while now, or read the newsletter, will already know that we are longstanding supporters of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). There are a wide variety of RDA groups, some being large and purpose built to support people with more complex needs, whilst local riding schools also offer access to disabled riders as part of the RDA Approved Centres scheme. Making a real difference across the UK, each RDA stables have something unique to offer, whether it’s their location, facilities, or the opportunities they offer.

Having worked with a number of these RDA centres over the years, we wanted to showcase a few of our longstanding partnerships and highlight what makes each of them unique, and the range of mounted and unmounted activities they offer that you might not have known about.

Whether you’re looking for an RDA centre to join or want to chip in and volunteer in your spare time, there are so many to choose from and all of them are in need of your support. Together, they create inclusive environments for their participants and volunteers, and we’re proud to highlight the incredible work they do to support disabled people across the UK, and we want to sing their praises.

About RDA

RDA is a fantastic charity with a huge reach across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, supporting over 39,000 disabled individuals every year across nearly 450 local RDA centres. It offers opportunities for disabled people to engage with horses in ways that support wellbeing, confidence, and connection. The charity supports people with a wide range of needs, including physical and learning disabilities, learning differences, mental health conditions, and long-term health conditions. With such a range of beneficiaries, it seeks opportunities for everyone and is certainly not a ‘one size fits all’ model.

1 in 4 people in the UK are disabled, which means there are a huge number of people who stand to benefit from being involved with RDA. Involvement does not stop at taking part in sessions, many people have found support, community, purpose, and guidance by actively involving themselves in their local RDA as a volunteer. It is a warm and welcoming community, where everyone is seen, supported, and included no matter what.

The RDA is a charity that, at its core, improves the health and wellbeing of disabled people. The recent Impact Report for 2026 highlighted the overwhelming positive impact that equine assisted therapy in all its forms had on the community.

• 95% improvement of mental wellbeing
• 82% felt more connected to others and the natural world
• 90% felt increased self-esteem, confidence, and independence
• 88% became more physically active and saw an increased physical ability

Access to inclusive activities and communities can play an important role in supporting wellbeing and reducing isolation for disabled people, as well as parents and carers. The RDA helps to break down barriers and give people the opportunities to take part and flourish within supportive, like-minded communities. Horses are wonderful, non-judgemental animals, and many participants find that spending time with them supports emotional regulation, while also helping to build confidence, independence, and a range of physical and practical skills.

As the RDA approaches its 60th anniversary in 2029, there is a bigger demand than ever for their services, and they need more support than ever to deliver this - both financial and through volunteering. There are so many people out there who may not know there is a community designed to support them and RDA’s mission to let as many know as possible. The RDA requires a huge amount of support to continue serving the disabled community, and through donations, like PolyJumps’ generous contribution, they are able to continue pioneering equine assisted activities for disabled people to learn, grow, and connect.

Park Lane Stables

Park Lane Stables RDA is a unique centre located in Teddington, London, providing access to horses, riding, and nature for those in the city. They offer a variety of riding lessons, carriage driving, equine therapy, and care home and hospital visits. Despite their urban location, Park Lane Stables offer riders the chance to hack out in one of London’s Royal Parks, Bushy Park. For many of its patrons who live in the heart of London, riding out in Bushy Park is a new sensory experience and we all know green space releases dopamine, which for RDA members with mental health problems, is a fantastic antidote. For their ambitious riders, Park Lane Stables offers support for those who wish to pursue their competitive dreams and have facilitated members attending shows and even qualifying for the Sunshine Tour at Hickstead!

Another feature that Park Lane Stables RDA offers is the Cuddle Horse. Looking out onto the street, the cuddle horse is available at all times for people to come and do just that! Give them a cuddle, spend some quiet time with them, or talk to them about what’s on their mind. With no appointment required, the cuddle horse is available whenever it’s needed and massively supports people with mental health struggles. Coming to see the cuddle horse gets them out of the house and interacting with people and horses, which is cathartic and grounding. The emphasis at Park Lane Stables is that you don’t have to ride the horses to benefit from them, and simply being around them can have therapeutic and positive effects for people of all ages and abilities.

Having an RDA centre in such a central, metropolitan location opens up the options for those based in the heart of London who may not have access to the countryside, or for whom long distance travel is not feasible. For many that live in the city and don’t have access to the countryside around it, horses are out of reach and seeing them would be limited to the Mounted Police, or a military horse stationed outside Buckingham Palace. Bringing an RDA centre to their doorstep enables them to connect with these animals that for many provide a safe space, a listening ear, calmness, friendship, and quiet understanding. Park Lane Stables has a wonderful roster of 25 horses and ponies, who are on a 4–5-day rotation at the stables. Due to their central location the horses are swapped in and out every few days to give them the turnout and down time they require.

Park Lane Stables RDA wouldn’t exist without its founder, Natalie O’Rouke, who had a vision for a friendly and supportive environment, where everyone is welcome to muck in (and muck out!). Alongside an army of volunteers, Natalie also employs RDA members with disabilities at the stables, supporting them to build experience and develop their skills while being part of the team. This also helps create a visible, inclusive environment where disabled people are part of the team, working in a range of roles.

Park Lane Stables make the most of their PolyJumps equipment in an offsite arena and have helped their members pursue goals and dreams of jumping and competing. They have 3 PolyJumps Mounting Blocks, kept in the stables and in the park for accessibility as they are easy to manoeuvre and designed to assist those with physical disabilities to safely mount their horse. They have certainly made a difference to the RDA members at Park Lane Stables, and we can’t wait to see what their riders get up to in the future.

Natalie has just been recognised as the Sunday Times Grassroots Sports Woman of the Year! A wonderful accolade and fantastic recognition for all of her hard work supporting the disabled community.

The Cavalier Centre

The Cavalier Centre is an RDA centre based in Shropshire, close to the Welsh border. While the purpose-built Cavalier Centre facility has been operating for the past six years, the RDA group itself has a much longer history. Previously known as the Perry RDA Group, the organisation has been working with disabled riders for over 30 years. Today, the Cavalier Centre welcomes RDA members aged from 4 to over 80. The organisation is run by a dedicated board of trustees, supported by a team of full-time staff and more than 180 volunteers, all working together to provide opportunities for individuals with a wide range of learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and mental health challenges.

The centre is one of the best-equipped RDA facilities in the UK, with impressive amenities including a large indoor arena, outdoor arena, and a purpose-built carriage driving track. It is also home to ‘Perry’, a mechanical horse used for rider assessment and training, alongside a herd of 15 horses and ponies in regular work. These facilities enable the Cavalier Centre to offer a wide range of activities, including riding lessons — from introductory sessions through to dressage and jumping for those who wish to progress — as well as horsemanship programmes, carriage driving, equine-based educational activities, stable management training, and volunteering opportunities.

Several innovative programmes also form an important part of the centre’s work. Their Quiet Time initiative offers a calm and safe environment where members can spend time with a horse to support emotional regulation and wellbeing. Meanwhile, Tea with a Pony has become a much-loved activity that provides therapeutic interaction and companionship for people living with dementia.

‘Perry’, the mechanical horse, plays a particularly valuable role within the centre. Not only does it help assess riders before they mount a live horse, but it also ensures that members who are unable to ride can still experience the movement and connection associated with riding. One of the centre’s guiding principles is that “everyone is equal here”, and this philosophy is reflected in the extensive accessibility features throughout the site. The Cavalier Centre is equipped with hoists and lifts that allow riders with significant physical disabilities to safely access ‘Perry’, their horses, and the carriages.

To maximise the use of its facilities and generate vital income for its charitable work, the centre also makes its facilities available for hire once RDA activities have finished for the day. A variety of additional activities take place on site, including dog agility, Cavalier Centre Carriage Driving Club, external training sessions, and specialist clinics and demonstrations with professional riders and trainers. These events have proven highly successful in both raising funds and engaging the wider equestrian community. For RDA participants and spectators alike, the demonstrations are inspiring experiences that encourage riders to pursue their own goals and ambitions.

With the support of PolyJumps Show Jumps, these demonstrations have already helped generate more than £2,000 for the Cavalier Centre, helping ensure the charity can continue its important work for its members.

Foxhills Riding Centre

Foxhills Riding Centre is a great example of a multi-faceted equestrian centre offering riding and grooming sessions for RDA members. Foxhills is part of the RDA Approved Centres scheme, designed to increase the number of commercial riding stables offering RDA opportunities for disabled people. Located on a 70-acre farm on the outskirts of Birmingham they are well situated to accommodate those from the inner city as well as those from the surrounding areas. Those 70 acres house a busy livery yard and a grassroots riding school made up of 29 horses and ponies. Alongside RDA sessions, they offer private lessons, group lessons, Pony Club, and BHS training all from their 60m x 20m outdoor arena and bustling stable yard.

Made up of about 30 staff members and volunteers, Foxhills is a big operation in which everyone chips in and helps each other out. As well as the riding lessons, they also provide grooming sessions for those who can’t ride but want the benefits of being around horses, as well as ‘own a pony’ days. The ‘own a pony’ day helps riders learn stable management and responsibility, as well as the skills to work around horses (a fantastic asset if they ever wish to volunteer themselves!). Alongside these experience days they also offer ‘life on a farm day’ which incorporates the broader day to day experiences on a farm, including caring for their much-loved Pygmy goats!

Foxhills Riding Centre is a fantastic example of a riding stables which accommodates everyone, making riding and being around horses all the more accessible for RDA riders. With their fantastic facilities and the broad variety of riders attending lessons, it is an inspiring and inclusive environment for disabled riders to be part of. PolyJumps have proudly supplied Foxhills with all of their show jumping equipment to assist riders in achieving their goals

Aim RDA Group

Aim RDA is one of the newest in the association and part of the national RDA movement. Named after their founding principles, Ability, Independence, and Motivation, Aim RDA offers a multitude of experiences with horses both mounted and unmounted, tailored to each participant's needs. They highlight the emotional benefits of spending time around horses, as well as improving well-being, boosting confidence, and learning new and practical skill sets. Alongside riding and unmounted lessons for its RDA participants, they also offer monthly pony club for their young riders, additional private lessons, competitions, fundraisers, and trips out. Aim RDA is passionate about championing its participants and their families, providing a fully inclusive, engaging, and fun experience.

Unlike many RDA centres, Aim RDA operates out of 2 hired venues, one being part of Lambourn RDA, and the other being Shrivenham Equestrian Centre, a mainstream riding stables. All the horses used for the RDA have a varied and exciting life, whilst spending as much time out in the field as possible getting totally muddy! Aim RDA purchased their first own horse ‘Ruairi’ at the end of 2025 and are excited to see how he develops into a fantastic riding for the disabled horse.

Aim RDA are a small group with big goals and lot of heart. They are an entirely volunteer run operation, founded by 6 friends with over 40 years of combined RDA experience. Each person plays multiple roles, with 7 trustees, 5 coaches (and growing!), and 70 volunteers. They are passionate about changing perceptions, so more people understand how much RDA offers and ensuring the RDA mission stays relevant and successful for many years to come.

Aim RDA is heavily involved in the competitive side of RDA, including showjumping. At the last RDA National Championships (the largest event of its kind for disabled equestrians) their riders secured a 4th place and a class champion title in two huge showjumping classes. Our own sponsored rider, Frankie Townsend, is a committed member of Aim RDA and has had huge success at competitions alongside them. PolyJumps have thoroughly enjoyed following Aim RDA on their journey and have been delighted to support them with a full set of PolyJumps show jumps to assist their riders develop their skills safely and effectively. Whether they aren’t quite ready to leave the floor, lots of fun can be had with poles on the ground, and for those with their sights set on the next RDA National Championships, they can practice their jumping and course riding as much as they can.

If you’d like to find out more, you can visit the RDA website to explore how to get involved, make a donation, or read inspiring stories from participants and volunteers. You’ll also find a full list of RDA groups and Approved Centres across the country.

As a charity, RDA relies on voluntary donations and ongoing support to continue its work, so whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or take part in a challenge event, your support helps the charity reach and support more disabled people across the UK. You’ll find a welcoming community and so much more when you get involved.