What is RDA?
Background Information
The Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore (RDA) provides free, therapeutic horse riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities from all over Singapore. It aims to teach people with disabilities to ride to the best of their ability.
RDA Singapore was founded in 1982, with just 5 riders. Since then more than a thousand disabled children and adults 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.
Click here to view an introductory video clip.
The Benefits of Riding
RDA can benefit virtually all disabilities, both physical and intellectual, 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 cannot walk, see, communicate, etc, riding a horse allows them to experience a new sense of freedom and independence. Friends are made and it's fun.
People in wheelchairs 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 wheelchair-bound.
A wide variety of schools, associations, special needs centres, as well as individual riders benefit from RDA programmes, eg:
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Schools ASPN Delta Senior School Grace Orchard School Jervois Special School Metta School Margaret Drive Special School Lee Keong Chian Gardens School Towner Gardens School Yio Chu Kang Gardens School Jurong Gardens School Chao Yang Special School Balestier Special School Katong Special School Asian Women's Welfare Association Special School Guillemard Gardens School Singapore School for the Visually Handicapped Genesis School for Special Education Tanglin Special School |
Associations Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped Society for the Physically Disabled Outreach to the Handicapped
Special Needs Centres |