We’re thrilled to be lending our help to the Driving for the Disabled Affiliation’s ‘digital’ Nationwide Championships happening this coming weekend – 18 – 19 November.

This follows exhausting on the heels of our sponsorship at RDA’s Nationwide Championships in Hartpury through the summer time, which I totally loved attending . An official RDA highlights video is on the market right here . On each events, Kingsley Napley’s Medical Negligence and Court docket of Safety groups sponsor the energetic Countryside Problem occasions.

The digital championships – first developed because of the pandemic – supply one thing completely different for riders and spectators alike and are the largest equestrian occasion of their variety for disabled opponents. The occasion is accessible to the entire 413 RDA member teams countrywide.

Opponents undertake varied occasions of their native driving centres, with the highest three in every class being stay streamed, mirroring the ‘actual occasion’ and delivered to life by stay commentary.

Riders take part in a variety of disciplines, together with Vaulting, Carriage Driving, Dressage, Countryside Problem and Musical Trip and Drive. It’s a fantastic alternative for riders impressed by the summer time championships to have the ability to compete of their house enviornment with out the associated fee and logistical challenges in any other case concerned. No rider has to overlook out.

The digital championships may be considered on the RDA fb web page and on YouTube at @RDANational. They appeal to viewers from all over the world, not solely permitting extra riders to compete but additionally hundreds of individuals to view the occasions.

Countryside Problem

The Countryside Problem is a enjoyable occasion, requiring abilities drawn from dressage and present leaping, which is a agency favorite amongst individuals. The occasion course consists of obstacles for riders to navigate, with completely different actions at every level alongside the way in which, corresponding to stopping to retrieve a letter and put up it in a put up field, pictured. 

Right here you may watch Lily discuss her expertise of collaborating within the Countryside Problem at Hartpury this summer time and the nice sense of accomplishment she felt by competing. Now, I sit up for following the thrill of the competitors this weekend.

Equine therapies

At Kingsley Napley, we’re keen about supporting the work of the RDA and the nice worth that equine therapies can carry to these with a variety of disabilities. Our earlier blogs setting out the advantages of hippotherapy and the way this may occasionally relate to our purchasers, may be discovered right here and right here.

Curiously, it’s not solely driving and hippotherapy that’s supplied by the RDA. For instance, it has some 50 teams providing ‘tea with a pony‘ periods for these residing with dementia or different related circumstances, the place driving might not be appropriate however there may be actual profit from contact with horses.