By Meyrick Brown

WEST Wales supporters of the Riding for the Disabled Association confirmed at their annual Charity Horse Show at the Bowlings Riding School, near Haverfordwest how proud they are to be celebrating 50 years of delivering opportunities for therapy, achievement and enjoyment to people with disabilities.

As a national organisation, RDA now has 500 member groups across the UK – together, these groups help 23,000 people to take part in riding and other equestrian activities.

The key therapeutic factor in RDA is the movement of the horse. Riding provides physiotherapy on the move; the warmth and three dimensional movement of the horse is transmitted through the body of the rider helping relaxation, and strengthening core muscles.

Last December, it was revealed that Pembrokeshire College had been shortlisted for a prestigious award in relation to its work at Bowlings Riding School alongside the Riding for the Disabled Association.

For over two decades now the Bowlings School has specialised in providing a safe environment for riders aged from four to over 70 who have a variety of mental and physical disabilities. The centre is headed up by Mike Butcher, the UK’s lead show jumping coach for RDA, who is passionate about the benefits that riding can bring to people with mental and physical disabilities.

In 2013 Mike was instrumental in the introduction of show jumping as a new discipline at RDA, allowing riders to receive coaching from qualified RDA show jumping coaches across the UK - Mike is now working with the Federation for Equestrian International (FEI) and British Show Jumping in an attempt to get it accepted as a Paralympic sport.

Mike confirmed that around 80 local RDA members regularly attend at the Bowlings Riding Centre on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays of each week. West Wales RDA groups are located in North Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire (Gini Gristwood), Mid and South Pembrokeshire (Jo Goldsmith), Aberystwyth (Sue Wright), Carmarthen (Di Waghorn) and Dinefwr (Delphine Richards). More details may be obtained by contacting 0845 2416316.