Pilot project helps disabled horse riders
A unique pilot project called Accessibility Mark is to launch this year, aiming to increase opportunities for disabled people wanting to get involved in horse riding.
The project is in response to the high demand for providing horse riding for disabled people in England, with many more people interested in riding than are currently able to do so.
Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) are behind the initiative, having collaborated with the British Equestrian Federation (BEF).
By encouraging mainstream riding centres to achieve the accreditation and become an approved centre for the scheme, riders will have more options for getting involved.
Ed Bracher, chief executive of RDA, said: "We are really excited about the launch of the Accessibility Mark. It will enable more people to have access to riding and to high quality support and coaching.
"Equestrianism in the UK leads the world in terms of providing access to the sport as both a competitive activity and as a simple form of exercise and therapy; this new product will ensure that this continues and that we are able involve more and more people."
Research conducted in 2013 by RDA has shown clear benefits for people with a range of disabilities. For example, 80 per cent of their riders to be surveyed improved physically, 90 per cent became more confident and 82 per cent showed improved communication skills.
Sophie Wells, paralympic gold and silver medallist, said: "I never think of myself as having a disability; I think this is the same for a lot of people and the feeling of being labelled can be off putting when taking part in new things.
"Accessibility Mark means that anyone can go into any riding centre and get involved in horse riding without making them feel different."
The British Horse Society (BHS), the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) and the Pony Club (TPC) have offered their support to the project and are looking to provide Accessiblity Mark in their own schools and centres.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
