Oliver Wight donates horse to Riding for the Disabled Association

Oliver Wight has donated a well-tempered and well-statured horse to the Riding for the Disabled Association. The mare, which made her entrance during a royal visit from HRH The Princess Royal, the President of the RDA, provides disabled adults with a comfortable riding companion.

The Riding for the Disabled Association was officially formed in 1969 to provide people with disabilities an opportunity to go horse riding or carriage driving as a form of therapy. The charity has grown considerably in the intervening years and has been supported by patron HRH The Princess Anne. Today it has more than 18,000 volunteers across 500 groups: 28,000 riders, drivers and vaulters and more than 3,200 horses. It has a modest income of £1.8 million, money which goes towards three main focus areas. The first is group support, development of therapy, holidays, resources and grants to groups. The second is coaching training, carriage driving development, National Championships and developing new areas. The third is Education programme, volunteer support and participant support.

Early this month the new addition to the RDA, a horse named Willow, was donated by the Oliver Wight team to the RDA at Lowland farm in Warwickshire. The team was present when Willow made her entrance at Lowland farm, at which HRH The Princess Royal and the President of the RDA were present. The firm decided to donate a horse due to its long relationship with the RDA, in which it came to light that finding well-tempered and of adequate stature equines is no easy feat for the charity organisation.

Sal Atkinson, Fundraising Manager at the RDA, says that the organisation is “grateful” to Oliver Wight for their continued support for the RDA. Atkinson further adds, “For the past four years their sponsorship of the main marquee at our National Championship has made a massive difference to the event and the quality of experience we provide to competitors and their families. Their latest donation shows their understanding of the challenges faced by many of our groups as they struggle to find suitable horses for adult riders. Willow will be a great addition to Lowlands Farm – and she is sure to be a big hit with the group’s riders.”