The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is a United Kingdom based charity founded in 1969[1] focused on providing therapeutic horse-riding, equestrian vaulting and carriage driving lessons to people with developmental and physical disabilities as well seeking to improve the lives of those with mental health difficulties.

The RDA is a federation of about 500 independent groups and serves over 26,500 adults and children each year[3] and is one of 16 members that make up British Equestrian.

[7] In the 20th century, therapeutic horseback riding or equine-assisted therapy, became popular across Europe after Dane Lis Hartel, despite being paralyzed from the knees down by polio, won the silver medal for Individual Dressage at the 1952 Summer Olympics.

By 1966, 23 of these were present in the United Kingdom and by 1969 were organised formally in to Riding for the Disabled Association[8] with Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard, Duchess of Norfolk as its first president.

[13] The events include ridden and non-ridden classes featuring dressage, carriage driving, the Countryside Challenge, showjumping, vaulting and showing.