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Visit: Arrow Riding Centre for the Disabled (Kent)
Overview
The Arrow Riding Centre for the Disabled (often simply called Arrow RDA) is a charitable organisation based at Darenth Park in Kent. It provides therapeutic and adaptive horse-riding and equine-based activities for children and adults with a wide range of physical, learning or sensory disabilities.History, Mission and Facilities
The Arrow was founded in 1982 by the Dartford Lions Club; it is entirely self-funded and needs approximately £140,000 a year to operate. Staffed by fully qualified instructors, physiotherapists and volunteers, their mission is to bring the benefit and joy of horse-riding to people of all ages and abilities. Riders will have an individual plan tailored to their needs and facilities include indoor and outdoor arenas, woodland walks, 100 acres of private land, 14 horses and ponies plus a mechanical horse which is a dressage simulator. The GB Para Dressage team also train there. There are two well equipped conference rooms available to hire, complete with screens and flip charts. Facilities including a lift to the first floor are all accessible for wheelchair users, as are the changing and shower facilities. There is ample free parking.How to Get Involved
If you or a family member are interested in taking part, contact them via their website www.arrowridingcentre.com or phone number listed (01322 294390) and their email arc@arrowridingcentre.com They welcome volunteers to help with riding sessions, ponies, arena work, etc. The strong volunteer base is vital. Supporters: as a self-funding organisation they rely on donations, fundraising, and grants to continue their work. The Arrow Riding Centre for the Disabled in Kent is a wonderful resource for those seeking equine-assisted activity with a therapeutic purpose. Its long-standing history, specialised staff, inclusive approach and dedicated facilities make it a strong choice. Whether you’re looking for therapeutic riding for someone with disabilities, or a volunteering opportunity with meaning, Arrow RDA is worth exploring. I was fortunate enough to spend the day here recently, exploring the idea that using the StandSure on clients prior to their riding lesson would improve their function and form during their actual lesson.
We used the medium and large sizes of StandSure for 20 minutes prior to the lesson, to help with grounding the feet in sitting, sit to stand and standing on clients with a variety of presentations including spasticity and hip flexor tightness, global low muscle tone affecting pelvic tilt, and sensory tip toe walking. Following this session with StandSure the clients were given their regular 30 minute riding lesson.
Feedback from Emma, the Arrow’s volunteer Physio and Hippotherapist was as follows:
“Client ‘A’ got her right leg into the same position as her left for the first time ever!! Straight from mounting as well. She also actually had pelvic movement that went with the horse’s movement instead of blocking it and event the volunteers commented on how freely the pony could move and how ‘A’s position was the best they had ever seen!”
“Client ‘H’ got a much more upright pelvis as he usually lives in posterior pelvic tilt and had a much more secure leg position.”
“Client HV (sensory tip toe walker) was much more relaxed”
These are incredibly exciting results after only one session, and I am organising a return visit to try the same exercise with some much younger children, using the small StandSure.
