Enriching people’s lives
GAIN Equine Nutrition is supporting Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland
GAIN Equine Nutrition is partnering with Riding for the Disabled Association Ireland (RDA Ireland) to support the free horse riding and carriage-driving sessions the charity provides to hundreds of children and adults with disabilities every week.
The three-year partnership with the charity is in keeping with GAIN Equine Nutrition and Tirlán’s Living Proof sustainability strategy and our operative’s commitment to supporting farm families and the communities in which they live.
RDA Ireland was established over 50 years ago and its 360 volunteers work in 30 groups across the country to provide all-important weekly riding or carriage driving-sessions to over 300 children and adults with disabilities.
The free sessions provide service users with fitness, development of skills, socialisation, achievement and most importantly, fun, according to Cathy Byrne, RDA Ireland’s National Coordinator.
“The weekly lessons provide therapy, achievement and enjoyment to people with a range of disabilities to enjoy safe, healthy, stimulating horse-riding activities. But it is not only the riders who benefit – our volunteers gain so much from the Association and we’re always looking for new help and support. The funding we’re receiving from GAIN Equine Nutrition and Tirlán will help us train and support our volunteers and run our organisation, which has also just launched a Sponsor Riders Scheme.”
Joanne Hurley, Head of Equine, GAIN Equine Nutrition said: “Through our work in GAIN Equine Nutrition, we get to partner and support so many different parts of the industry from racing, bloodstock, high performance and horse welfare. It is great to be able to show our support to another really valuable part of the equine industry through this partnership with the RDAI. It is an association that enriches the lives of so many people right around the country and it is just wonderful to be able to give them our support.”
