Opened in 1988, the Glasgow RDA Group annually provides equine therapy to around 400 children and adults with disabilities from across the Greater Glasgow area. Every week it provides 36 hours of riding and carriage driving sessions, relying on the help of over 100 volunteers to support the participants.
Balancing on a horse works thousands of muscles, with the horse’s movement mimicking a walking pattern in the muscles of the rider. As well as providing a highly effective form of physiotherapy, it offers psychological benefits. It’s this combination of benefits that makes equine therapy appropriate for a wide range of disabilities, including autism and Asperger’s, cerebral palsy, visual or hearing impairments and learning disabilities.
Riding takes place in small classes indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather. The aim of the classes is to teach new skills and foster independence by encouraging riders to take charge of their horse. The activities allow riders to experience the physical, sensory and psychological benefits that riding offers, which in turn helps to increase confidence and self-esteem. Achievement is recognised and rewarded with the children learning basic horsemanship to gain RDA Riding and Horse Care Grade certificates.
Funding by the Murdoch Forrest Charitable Trust supports equine therapy sessions with Smudge the pony, who works in lead rein therapy classes and the intriguingly titled Hippotherapy sessions. Thanks to the sponsorship, Smudge is kept in tip-top condition for his work indoors and outdoors throughout the seasons. It also met the purchase and installation of a washing machine to launder the sheepskin rugs that the Group’s youngest riders use to lay forwards, backwards and sideways during sessions on the much loved pony.
