Dunedin Riding for the Disabled

Dunedin Riding for the Disabled (DRDA) is a registered charity serving the greater Dunedin Area from premises located in Flower Street, Fairfield.

DRDA provides interaction with horses to enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals facing disabilities or specific challenges.

Therapeutic horse riding and horse care activities enable and support disabled people, helping them achieve good lives; including meaningful participation in, and contribution to, important life activities and roles in the community.

Currently, our 48 registered volunteers cater for the needs of 41 riders (we have another 31 waitlisted) and a team of eight horses.

We work alongside whānau, schools and the riders' wider community to help set goals and outcomes for each rider.

Our curriculum is split into three categories: Therapy, Education and Sports/Recreational. Riders are streamed into one of these categories based on individual goals and needs.

We regularly monitor and review each rider's personalised schedule and progress to ensure they continue to meet their goals.

A rider who has achieved all their goals may graduate from the RDA programme and have the option of joining our community riding group where they ride alongside others of all abilities.

We need horses; our current horses are near the end of their working lives.

We need infrastructure; drainage, water reticulation and a teaching room.

We need to care for our horses; they are expensive to purchase and to keep.

We need your support.