PENNIWELLS
Penniwells RDA centre is a large, purpose built centre catering for riders of all ages and ability. With 10 horses and ponies of various sizes we have many available activities including therapeutic riding, dressage with a platform to para dressage and are also a level 5 showjumping centre. The centre manager is Sarah Healing (advanced RDA coach, BHS L4, British Dressage accredited). There are 4 full time qualified coaching staff and approximately 80 volunteers attending throughout the week. Riders are encouraged to ride to their best ability with endless opportunities. Penniwells also offers training and mentoring for RDA coaches far and wide. Facilitates include an indoor and outdoor arena, hydraulic lift and a dressage simulator.
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Follow links below to directly contact Penniwells RDA centre.
CHIGWELL RIDING TRUST
Chigwell Riding Trust was the first ever riding centre for people with special needs and has been established in Chigwell for over fifty years. Riding instruction is given to people of all ages and abilities.
As one of the leading specialised riding centres in the country Chigwell Riding Trust not only benefits people with special needs but also the entire community, giving opportunities for volunteering, school participation and practical experience for children and adults working with people and animals.
THE DIAMOND CENTRE
The Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders is a registered charity, which provides unique facilities to benefit disabled children and adults by having regular contact with horses – either through riding or driving. We have around 350 riders per week, all with a disability, ages range from 3 to 75+ years old and each week they enjoy half an hour or so when, with the assistance of our instructors and helpers who are mainly volunteers, they can enjoy the experience of riding or driving horses to help improve their capabilities. An experience which takes them out of their restricted daily lives – and puts smiles on their faces! For many of our riders it is one of only a few sports they can participate in and experience some form of independence and sense of achievement.
ARROW GROUP
The Arrow Riding Centre for the Disabled was founded in 1982 by the Dartford Lions Club and is run by Group Organiser Valerie Blake B.E.M. The Centre provides therapeutic riding for ages ranging from 18 months to 84 years. All abilities are catered for with the opportunity to compete at national and parapotential level. Our team includes 4 full time qualified RDA paid coaches along with 3 voluntary RDA coaches. Over 50 volunteers give their time to help with lessons and general D.I.Y. We also have a clinical specialist paediatic physiotherapist who provides hippotherapy. We have 14 horses and ponies together with a mechanical horse (dressage simulator). Our facilities include indoor/outdoor arenas, conference rooms, woodland walks and over 100 acres of private hacking.
HORSE RANGERS ASSOCIATION
The Horse Rangers is a self-supporting, non-profit making, voluntary youth organisation which enables young people to develop life and leadership skills through learning to ride and looking after their horses and ponies. Our Riding for the Disabled sessions are a fundamental part of the organisation and we mostly offer therapeutic riding for children and adults with disabilities. We offer 10 sessions Tuesday to Friday during the daytime. Each session provides riding for 4 RDA members who will attend the same sessions each week.  We have over 80 volunteers that support each session alongside our RDA Coaches. We run across two site, The Royal Mews and The Stockyard and have an Indoor and Outdoor School as well as the luxury of riding out in Bushy Park.
ROYAL MEWS
Royal Mews RDA has been riding with disabled children for over fifty years. Â Originally based at the Royal Mews adjacent to Buckingham Palace, we now ride weekly at the Hyde Park Barracks, through the kind generosity of the Commanding Officer. Â Our ponies come from the Ross Nye Stables and we work exclusively with one special needs school whose students bring us much joyful challenge. We do a variety of games and riding exercises with the children and it is wonderful to see the positive effect on their mental and physical well being. Â While we cannot accept individual riders, we do welcome volunteers who would be interested in applying their skills to help on Tuesdays, 12-2pm during term times.
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
RDA Knightsbridge Group runs sessions on Thursdays at lunchtime during the School Term for Primary School aged children, at the indoor riding school inside the Hyde Park Barracks - Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. The children attend mainstream schools and have a range of physical disabilities and special educational needs. With 5 ponies of various sizes, from the Ross Nye Stables, we offer therapeutic riding, in a context where therapy is disguised as opportunities for achievement and fun, to two groups of 5 children each week. This helps to instil confidence as well as enjoyment and has been shown to promote significant progress in communications skills, relationship building skills, physical change and horsemanship. All of these skills are connected and contribute to wellbeing; progress in one area, such as horsemanship, boosts progress in others, such as confidence, which encourages enjoyment.
We have 2 qualified coaching staff. The sessions are free of charge, run each term, and as the riding school is indoors, the sessions take place weekly, despite the weather.
NEW LODGE
New Lodge Centre works across the spectrum of disabilities, age, and social status. The focus of our work is to ensure that each individual has the opportunity to achieve their personal goals, and chance to derive a direct therapeutic benefit. New Lodge Centre was started in 1978 by Brian Green.  In 1984 we became affiliated to the National Riding for the Disabled. However in 1998 they became Federated and each member group was required to become a registered charity. This made us responsible for our own fundraising but still governed by the rules and policies of theNational RDA.
PARK LANE STABLES
We daily see how being around horses enriches the lives of children and adults with disabilities or learning difficulties. Whether on the autistic spectrum, visually impaired, or a full-time wheelchair user, we offer activities that can help improve confidence, skills and self-esteem, set within a supportive and friendly environment. All sessions are run by fully trained RDAÂ instructors and DBS-checked volunteers.
KINGSMEAD EQUESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY MARK CENTRE
Kingsmead RDA Accessibility Mark Centre is based in Warlingham.  We can cater for riders of all ages and ability so long as they can mount from a mounting block (with assistance).  We have 15 horses and ponies, who have been carefully selected for their temperament.  We offer gentle ride outs along the bridlepath, private lessons and where suitable our RDA registered riders can join our regular group lessons.  We have a number of friendly supportive coaches, assistants and helpers to support riders. Riders at Kingsmead are encouraged to interact with their horses, developing their horsemanship from the ground up!
BEXLEY GROUP FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING
Bexley Group for Therapeutic Riding was established in 1977 by Anita Claridge and became a full member of the RDA in 1979. We offer riding to children from Shenstone School in Bexley on a Wednesday morning. The children all have complex needs. We use the ponies and facilities (which include indoor and outdoor arenas and woodland walks) at Arrow Riding Centre, Dartford but with our own volunteers. We have two qualified RDA coaches.
