Posted: 22nd May 2019 | Back to news feed
Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is celebrating 50 years of achievement, therapy and fun through horses with a stunning online collection of portraits and stories from all over the UK.
Designed to challenge preconceptions about disability, volunteering and the world of horses, ’50 faces’ is a celebration of the brilliant, fearless and pioneering people who make up the RDA family.
Right from the start, RDA has helped to open up the world of horses to everyone. The charity’s radical mission in 1969 that ‘no disabled person who could benefit from riding shall be denied the opportunity of doing so’ was the start of a quiet revolution that is still breaking down barriers today.
50 Faces acknowledges and celebrates RDA’s impact on people’s lives, regardless of age or background, from those who horse ride and carriage drive for life changing therapy, to the Paralympians who started their journey with their local RDA group.
“In our 50th year we want people outside of RDA to feel that they can get involved, and that means everyone. 50 Faces is about saying: if you think you know who takes part in horse sport – think again!” says RDA UK Communications Manager Caroline Ward.
“RDA has spent 50 years breaking down the barriers to participation, championing the goals and achievements of disabled people and welcoming volunteers and supporters from all walks of life. By reading just a few of the stories behind the people, hopefully we can inspire more people to join in.”
Among the ‘faces’ are Paralympian Sophie Christiansen CBE, Eventer Bill Levett’s son Josh, renowned jockey Tyrone Williams and Countryfile ‘Farming hero’ Julia Evans.
The campaign also features a Bolivian basketball player, a Hollywood stunt double, a motor racing coach, a horse racing nun and the woman who overcame all the odds to start Riding for the Disabled in Russia.
Explore the 50 faces project at www.rda.org.uk/50-faces
Meet RDA Coach, David Elliston, Lowlands RDA
“It’s very much a male orientated environment I work in. It really is. The gritting operation is full on. I was in construction for 16 years and came to the county council as a road worker. Basically I look after highway maintenance in my area. When the ice and the snow comes we’re here in this office 24 hours a day, and the furthest thing on your mind is Lowlands Farm.
“I first came to Lowlands when my daughter wanted riding lessons. One day, one of the RDA riders was there helping and I thought, this girl can hardly walk and she’s teaching my daughter to ride a horse. That was quite inspirational for me. I’m sat here for half an hour and I’m just watching – I can get involved with this one way or another.
“I started helping out walking next to the riders. I also joined the ground crew at RDA’s National Championships. I absolutely love it – this group of lads giving their time up to help. We have the best time.
“I suppose I noticed we were really struggling without enough coaches. Someone mentioned I should think about it, and that a lot of the children we deal with don’t have male influences in their lives – maybe there’s just mum, or female social workers and teachers.
“I’m loving every minute of it. I really am. The best bit for me was a little boy who started coming to me about six months ago. He couldn’t sit, couldn’t stand, couldn’t do anything. When he started, me and his dad had to support him completely. It was another coach who said ‘try letting go’. So we did, and he was able to right himself. Now he can do about ten times round the arena with minimal support.
“Two weeks ago he gesticulated to me, he put his arms out. So I said ‘do you mind?’ and dad said ‘no’, and I held him and he gave me this massive hug and he put his head into my neck and I had tears running down my face. And I thought: you know something, that’s what this is all about.”
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