In recent times, we’ve watched the Aussies shine at the Paralympic Games in Paris, and we’ve celebrated the success of our Virtus Equestrian and Special Olympics athletes internationally. Here in Australia, a common starting point for many of these riders representing us on the world stage is Riding for the Disabled.
The catalyst for RDA took place in 1964 when Peter and June McIntyre established the first classes for riders with disabilities in Kenmore, Queensland. By 1975, the Australian Council of Riding for the Disabled Australia was inaugurated, and then in 1979 the Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia (RDAA) was formed by agreement of five state associations.
A voluntary, nonprofit organisation, RDAA and its state associations today provide opportunities for anyone with a disability to enjoy safe, healthy, therapeutic, horse-related activities. For many, it’s simply a fun, sociable outlet that facilitates the opportunity to access the benefits an equine connection has to offer. For others, it goes beyond this to provide a pathway to achieve further competitive ambitions.
IMPORTANT PATHWAY
Based in NSW, Para Equestrian Rosemary Craig explains that her state association – Riding for the Disabled (NSW) – provides opportunities for people who love horses to become riders. “RDA NSW centres are equipped with facilities that help people to get on horses safely, and be assisted more closely, than what is normally available in riding schools,” explains Rosemary.
“RDA NSW is very inclusive. It enables riders with many sorts of disabilities to have the opportunity to compete and serves as an entry point to the sport for many. It is a crucial pathway for riders who may wish to go on and compete at Special Olympics, Virtus Equestrian or Para Equestrian events.”
Fellow NSW Para Equestrian Mikaela Worth echoes Rosemary’s sentiment, explaining that RDA NSW provides a vital pathway with many different avenues. “A rider, for instance, may first start at a centre as a form of therapy/sport and then while there, they may progress onto other things. They may develop an interest in, for example, dressage – so that rider may work on first entering a video competition and then work their way up to a State Championship… and then beyond.
“Depending on the goals of the rider, RDA NSW has helped forge many connections from centre level to international level. These connections have most recently been seen in the success of the Australian Virtus Equestrian team at the Virtus Global Games in 2023, with majority of those athletes having started with RDA first and then branching forward into specific areas such Virtus Equestrian,” explains Mikaela.
Virtus is elite sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment or autism who meet the eligibility requirements; in Australia this is managed by Sport Inclusion Australia. Virtus has been part of the International Paralympic Committee since its inception, however, there hasn’t been a category in equestrian sport at the Paralympics for these athletes since Sydney 2000. Virtus Equestrian has filled the void here since 2017, providing riders with the opportunity to compete internationally at an elite level – as we saw at the Virtus Global Games, and more recently at the Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships. Until last year, Virtus riders competed internationally via video competitions only. Australia has led the world with the introduction of live national competition in 2021, now other countries are starting to offer local events. The Virtus Equestrian committee have now developed a program of live international events, including regional games (such as the European Championships in 2023), the World Virtus Equestrian Championships in 2025, and the Global Games in a four year cycle like most other Virtus sports. In the future it’s hoped that Aussie riders may be able to compete on their own horses abroad.
Another avenue for athletes with an intellectual disability, Special Olympics Australia incorporates equestrian alongside a wide range of other sports and is community and participation focused. The Special Olympics World Games providing athletes with the opportunity to compete on the international stage with borrowed horses, and the 2023 Special Olympics World Games saw the Australian team bring home an impressive haul of medals between them. Again, many of these athletes started out or are still involved in RDA.
Para Equestrian – as we saw at the Paris Paralympics – is where riders are classified via an international standard according to their physical disability and can then compete at CPEDI events (international level events run under FEI rules).
Paralympian Stella Barton, who was part of the Australian Paralympic team for Paris with Lord Larmarque, began riding at age seven via Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria as part of a range of different therapies aimed at helping to improve her strength and coordination. Eighteen years later, and Stella has just ridden down the centreline at Versailles.
“RDA enables all of these riders, as well unclassified riders with disabilities, to complete in their own categories in both video and physical events,” continues Rosemary. “This is very important for riders who may not have local events for those with disabilities and for those who are aspiring to become classified.”
Not all athletes with a disability are eligible for Para Equestrian classification, and not all athletes who are classified are ready to ride in their assigned grade; with these issues in mind, Equestrian NSW developed more opportunities for riders with a disability through the Equibility Project, a program aimed at reducing barriers to participating in equestrian sports. Several other states have also offered a wider program of inclusion, as well as Para Equestrian events, and now that Equestrian Australia has recently appointed a Para Equestrian Committee it is hoped the Equibility program will be embraced nationally to continue to provide more opportunities for inclusion from community sport level right through to elite international representation.
2024 RDA NSW STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2024 RDA NSW State Championship was held from 23 to 25 August at Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) – a venue built for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and now still regularly used for many of the biggest equestrian events in the country.
The Championship included three disciplines: Dressage, Mounted Games and Prix Caprilli (a combination of dressage and jumping).
To qualify and compete in the Dressage classes, riders needed to obtain a qualifying score in the relevant dressage tests at recent events, either physical or virtual. “RDA NSW has been running video events for many years where the riders have their test recorded according to strict rules and the judges complete a score sheet just like in physical events. These video events are useful for riders with disabilities since they can do the recording at home without the effort and expense of travelling,” explains Rosemary, who was named Equestrian Australia Grade V Reserve Champion at this year’s Championship.
“Depending on the number of riders interested in attending the State Championships, centres may also hold regional competition days to gain experience while also determining the team of riders to attend,” adds Mikaela, who was the FEI Grade I Champion at the event.
The State Championships are an important step in a rider’s competitive journey. “The Championships allow riders to gain experience at a level they are comfortable with in small steps, and as they gain confidence, they can work up from entry level RDA tests, to Virtus or Para Equestrian tests. Being held at SIEC, the riders and horses also gain experience in a bigger but quieter environment,” continues Mikaela.
Mikaela says that socially, the State Championships are also significant for all those who attend. “This event is the one time each year that some riders and teams will see each other, coming from varying areas of Australia. It becomes a bit like an RDA family, where everyone supports each other.
“As part of these events, we also have many other organisations that have become a part of the weekend, such as Virtus and Equine Pathways Australia (a not-for-profit charity founded in Victoria and now available nation-wide to help people with injury, illness or disability engage in equestrian sport), so interested riders can get more information and connections as to what’s next,” says Mikaela.
“You can become involved as a rider with RDA in a number of ways… through a centre, as an Associate Rider… I urge anyone with interest to become involved. You won’t be disappointed!”
Congratulations to all riders and their horses who took part in this year’s RDA NSW State Championship!
Results from the 2024 RDA NSW State Championships:
MOUNTED GAMES
(Centre riders)
Led Walk Champion: Megan Blakey RDA (NSW) Kempsey-McLeay
Free Walk Champion: Judy Stone RDA (NSW) Manning Great Lakes
Junior Walk Champion: Owen Moorby RDA (NSW) Goulburn
Trot Champion: Jordon Breen RDA (NSW) Goulburn
(Non-centre riders)
Walk Champion: Glen Meyers
Trot Champion: Gillian Green
Canter Champion: Jodin Bell
PRIX CAPRILLI
Walk Junior Champion: Juzzi Bell and Kokoda’s Lethal Weapon
Walk Champion (assisted): Breanna Noble and Querria Maybelline
Walk Champion (off lead): Leila Wilson and Fly
Trot Champion: Isabella Parisi and Sailsbury Puzzle
Canter Champion: Gillian Green and Moonshie Miss Ava
DRESSAGE
FEI Grade I Champion: Mikaela Worth and Phorcefields Rapunzel
FEI Grade III Champion: Ella Newbry and Cayuse Xxtra Grand
FEI Grade IV Champion: Heidi Ford and Rikaardt H
Equestrian Australia Grade I Champion: Amy Ray and Balledore Masterpiece
Equestrian Australia Grade II Champion: Glen Meyers and El Nemo
Equestrian Australia Grade III Champion: Keeleigh Anderson and Colonial Park Amanda
Equestrian Australia Grade IV Champion: Tiannah Witney and Calvados
Equestrian Australia Grade V Champion: Gillian Green and Moonshine Miss Ava
Junior Grade I Champion: Juzzi Bell and Kokoda’s Lethal Weapon
Virtus Classified II1 Champion: Kyle Chapman and Chapplehurst Mozique
Virtus Classified II2 Champion: Sui Watts Gem Park Guess
Virtus Classified II3 Champion: Jodin Bell and Opal Park Memories
Virtus Section C II1 Champion: Isabella Parisi and Salisbury Puzzle
A special thank you to Amylie Hines for helping produce this article. You can view more of Amylie’s photos via her Facebook page, Beautiful A Photography. EQ
