RDA launches emergency appeal to care for horses

Charity fundraising appeal will support disability horse riding groups in immediate crisis.

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has launched an emergency fund appeal to help support some of its worst hit groups following the charity’s nationwide shutdown. Many groups, which rely on income from riding and carriage driving sessions, are facing financial hardship and the very real possibility of permanent closure without a vital injection of funds.

Activity at the charity’s 500 centres around the UK may have stopped, but care for its horses and ponies, including feed, hay and vets bills, must continue. The fundraising appeal will direct funds to groups most in need, and help to provide vital care to the 4000 horses who are central to RDA’s life-changing work.

The closure has affected around 25,000 disabled adults and children, many of whom rely on their weekly RDA sessions for physical therapy, health and wellbeing. RDA groups are also a vital community space for volunteers and participants to socialise, get active and have fun.

“We have already directed existing funds to this appeal, putting much of our planned activity on hold in order to support our groups. But we desperately need more money to make a real difference in the long term,” explains RDA UK Chief Executive, Ed Bracher. “With so many groups relying on income from weekly sessions to pay their running costs – including looking after their horses – this appeal is vital for the survival of the organisation around the UK. I urge everyone to do what they can to support us at this extremely difficult time.”

Donate now at www.rda.org.uk/donate