Riding for the the Disabled Association of Ireland members meet Show Jumping stars on eve of Dublin Horse Show

Building on a hugely successful partnership which is now entering it’s third year, members of the Riding for the the Disabled Association of Ireland (RDAI) this morning (Tuesday) had breakfast with some of Ireland’s top Show Jumping riders on the eve of the 2019 Stena Line Dublin Horse Show at the RDS in Ballsbridge.

Seán Codd from Cabra, Dublin with, from left, Cian O’Connor, Rodrigo Pessoa (Irish Show Jumping Team Manager) Paul O’Shea, Shane Sweetnam and Peter Moloney during the RDAI Reception at Minerva Suite, RDS in Dublin (Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile)

First started in 2017, the event is organised by the Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Committee, and aims to raise awareness of the work carried out by RDAI and the services they offer. Members of the 2019 Irish Aga Khan squad that includes Cian O’Connor, Darragh Kenny, Shane Sweetnam, Paul O’Shea and Peter Moloney were in attendance, along with Irish team manager Rodrigo Pessoa, assistant manager Michael Blake and several other top riders who will compete during the week at the RDS.

Members from the Riding for the the Disabled Association of Ireland pictured with Irish Show Jumping riders, team management and HSI representatives at a reception organised by the Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Committee at the RDS in Dublin (Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile)

Speaking at the event, Frankie Griffin from the Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland said:

“We are so thankful to all the Irish riders for their time and for making this such a success and to Horse Sport Ireland for organising this event. It really means a lot to all the kids who came today and to the RDAI to get the message across about what we do and to let people know that no individual involved gets paid for the work that we do and in turn none of the people that use our services have to pay – it is all free of charge.”

14 year old Donnacha Craven from Bishopstown, Co Cork with Shane Sweetnam during the RDAI Reception at Minerva Suite, RDS in Dublin. Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

One of the organisers of the event, Taylor Vard from Horse Sport Ireland’s Show Jumping High Performance committee said:

“We are thrilled once again for our athletes to meet with RDAI members here at the RDS and to promote the exceptional work that is done by the RDAI. I have to thank our fantastic sponsors who came on board again this year including Charles Owen riding hats, Alpes D’ OR. Cian O’Connor and Tredstep Ireland and thank you also to the RDS for their help and support. The RDAI are always on the look out for volunteers and I would encourage anyone who thinks that they might be able to help out to make contact with the RDAI through their website. ”

9 year old Isaac Reilly from Ballinagore, Co Westmeath with Cian O’Connor during the RDAI Reception at Minerva Suite, RDS in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

More information on the Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland is available on their website www.rdai.org

13 year old Brendan Connolly from Arklowc Co Wicklow with, from left, Cian O’Connor, Rodrigo Pessoa, Irish Show Jumping Team Manager, Paul O’Shea, Shane Sweetnam and Peter Moloney during the RDAI Reception at Minerva Suite, RDS in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

9 year old Elizabeth Evans-Heffernan from Navan, Co Meath with Paul O’Shea during the RDAI Reception at Minerva Suite, RDS in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

About the Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland
The RDAI is an Irish Voluntary Organisation which is proud to offer the opportunity of therapeutic and recreational Riding or Carriage Driving to any person, with a physical or intellectual disability. Anyone who meets our medical criteria, and who might benefit in their general health and wellbeing can benefit from this type of therapy.
More than 50 Voluntary groups nationally provide weekly lessons to over 700 disabled people.
There are Classes for riders and drivers of all ages, abilities and disabilities.
Funds to run the groups are raised voluntarily at national and local level.

Groups meet in working hours, using local equestrian centres with good wheelchair access and the availability of suitable horses and ponies for the teaching of a sport on horseback to a disabled person.Each group has its own committee, group organiser, riding instructor and therapist (where available) and a number of voluntary helpers. The organisation provides a comprehensive insurance policy. The main focus of RDA Ireland is to broaden the physical, intellectual and social horizons of people with special needs.

Benefits for Riders/Drivers who participate in this sport:

• Learn a skill
• Increase their self confidence
• Improve posture, coordination and balance.
• Improve their self awareness and ability to interact socially in a group
• Become more motivated to learn
• Achieve their personal goals and ambitions.
• Our riders are of various ages .

The range of disabilities includes:

• Cerebal palsy
• Dispraxia
• Autism
• Downs Syndrome
• MS
• Mild To Moderate Intellectual disabilities