Mary Walsh chairs RDA Ireland — the volunteer-led organisation with 40 groups, 400 riders weekly and zero paid executives that has provided riding and therapy to adults and children with physical and intellectual disabilities for nearly 60 years.
Mary, and Michael Fox, whose autistic son Leo started with RDA Ireland and began to see incredible results – from writing poetry in school to feeling “calm” on his horse Henry, to holding cabbage for Henry despite severe ARFID which means he cannot even look at vegetables in a supermarket.
This incredible episode highlights the amazing work carried out by RDA Ireland by its volunteers at centres across the country.
Listen to the full episode on Horse Sport Ireland Podcast above or search “Horse Sport Ireland” on your podcast app.
#equineTherapy #RDAIreland #horseHeartbeat #autismSupport #volunteerImpact
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
- Horse’s heartbeat synchronises with rider’s creating zen calming effect for everyone
- Six year old profoundly autistic non-verbal girl now sleeping talking after sessions
- Leo holding cabbage for Henry overcoming ARFID food phobia through horse feeding
- Forty groups, four hundred riders, nearly sixty years, zero paid executives
- Fundraising, including who you can sponsor a rider for just €200 yearly to help RDA Ireland continue its magnificent work
GUEST DETAILS
Mary Walsh is Chairperson of RDA Ireland, a volunteer-led organization operating nearly 60 years, providing riding therapy to 400 riders weekly across 40 groups with zero paid executives.
As a founding member of the Cavan group 30 years ago, Mary progressed from volunteer to area rep to welfare officer, delivering Sport Ireland safeguarding courses, before becoming chairperson.
Her most powerful story: a six-year-old profoundly autistic non-verbal girl who never slept one night in six years now sleeps every night, talks, and wears a bobbin after RDA sessions—transforming her exhausted single mother’s life completely.
Michael Fox also joins us to tell us his family’s story and the incredible benefits his son Leo has gained from his sessions with RDA Ireland.
Connect with RDA Ireland:
- RDA Ireland: rdaireland.org
- Instagram and Facebook: Search RDA Ireland
- Interactive map on website showing 40 centres nationwide
- Volunteer, donate, or sponsor a rider (€200/year)
MORE INFORMATION
Horse Sport Ireland is the national governing body for equestrian sport and the sport horse industry in Ireland, overseeing disciplines and high-performance teams, regulating athletes and horses, issuing equine passports and maintaining studbooks, and supporting breeders through national breeding services and coaching programmes.
https://www.horsesportireland.ie/
This podcast was produced by dustpod.io