RDA Singapore

Background Information
The Riding for the Disabled Association(Singapore) provides free, therapeutic horse riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities from all over Singapore.

RDA (Singapore) was founded in 1982, with just 5 riders. Since then more than a thousand  children and adults with disabilities have been given the opportunity to ride, and the opening of our new centre in 1997 has meant that we can cater to over 100 riders per week. With the addition in 2001 of a roof over the DBS Riding Arena our goal is to increase that number significantly.

RDA Singapore 2010 from Meghann Collard on Vimeo.

The Benefits of Riding

RDA Singapore is the only organization in Singapore that provides Therapeutic Horse Riding (Equine Assisted Therapy & Hippotherapy) to people with disabilities. The range of disabilities that benefit from therapeutic riding include:

Physical, emotional, cognitive  and social difficulties such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Visual impairment, Hearing Impairment, Learning Disabilities, Muscular Dystrophy and CVA (Stroke)

Horses provide a tool for physical therapy, emotional growth, and cognitive improvement, in a unique format that is fun, exhilarating, and sometimes has the power to change a person’s perspective on life. Besides the physical benefits derived from therapeutic riding, the contact with the animal is a powerful experience, and the strong bond that is sometimes experienced often has a profound, uplifting effect on people who are troubled or suffering.

RDA can benefit virtually all disabilities, both physical and learning disabilities, in children and adults. As well as providing recreation and sport, riders gain increased self-confidence, improved circulation, respiration, balance, coordination and mobility. For someone who is unable to walk unaided, see or has communication difficulties, riding a horse allows them to experience a new sense of freedom and independence. Friends are made and it’s fun.

People using wheelchairs for mobility are able to walk tall with the aid of a horse – they are no longer looked down upon. They can venture into the forest or jungle for a walk, something that is virtually impossible for anyone who is a wheelchair user.

A wide variety of schools, associations, special needs centres, as well as individual riders benefit from RDA programmes, eg: