Posted: 1st February 2016 | Back to news feed
Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), in partnership with Hoof, the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) participation programme launched a pilot of the Accessibility Mark scheme and following its success, the scheme is now country wide.
Accessibility Mark aims to offer more people the opportunity to take up sport and experience the benefits that horse riding can bring. Riding centres accredited to the scheme receive training and support from the long established and well-respected RDA. Wrea Green Equitation Centre near Preston is just one of the centres to have taken on the scheme with great success.
Yard owner, Chris Pollitt discovered the fantastic work of the RDA in the late 1970’s and opened Wrea Green Equitation Centre in 1981.
Wrea Green Equitation Centre is a fully licenced riding school which offers riding lessons to a wide range of clients, including RDA lessons on a Tuesday, throughout the day and evening. These sessions are so popular that there is a waiting list for people wanting to join and it was this waiting list that made Chris and her team jump at the chance to earn their Accessibility Mark accreditation.
Wrea Green Equitation Centre gained Accessibility Mark accreditation in September 2014 and it has proved hugely successful, drawing riders from all over the North West.
The Centre runs their Accessibility Mark sessions on a Saturday and Sunday and with plans to start one on a Monday as well due to the high demand.
The sessions are run in groups of eight with mixed rider ability and provide great social aspects as well as tuition.
Chris Pollitt is very enthusiastic about Accessibility Mark sessions and said “The flexibility works well for riders and Accessibility Mark offers more opportunities and choice for disabled riders”.
Accessibility Mark sessions has become very popular at Wrea Green and include riders from the age of three to eighty two. The centre doesn’t have a hoist, therefore clients need to be able to mount with assistance from a member of staff, but where possible riders of all abilities are catered for.
These sessions are offered in an indoor school together with a range of training facilities and a progressive route for those riders wanting to achieve more, and realise their full potential.
To find your nearest RDA Group or Accessibility Mark centre visit www.equestrianindex.com/equestrian-centres/riding-for-the-disabled-groups or www.rda.org.uk
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