South West Cornwall Group

All of our horses and ponies are carefully selected and trained for RDA work. They are chosen for their gentle temperament, patience, and adaptability — qualities that make them perfect partners for riders who may have additional needs or be nervous around horses.

Our herd includes a wonderful variety — from sturdy cobs to nimbler ponies — each matched to our riders' needs. They are used to side walkers and lead rein work, and are entirely comfortable with wheelchairs, mobility aids, and the busyness of a session day.

The welfare of our horses is paramount. We work closely with our host yard at Lelant Downs to ensure the animals are well cared for, properly fed, regularly shod and vetted, and given appropriate rest days.

Our arena dressage letters — featuring fun animal pictures to help our riders remember each marker — are just one example of the thoughtful adaptations we make to support every rider's learning journey.

Volunteering with SWCG–RDA is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the group — without them, we simply couldn't run our sessions.

There are many ways to get involved:

• Side Walkers — walking alongside riders to provide physical support and encouragement
• Leaders — leading horses around the arena during sessions
• Horse Helpers — assisting with grooming, tacking up and stable duties
• Session Helpers — general assistance during sessions
• Fundraising Volunteers — helping at events and fundraising activities
• Administrative Support — office and behind-the-scenes help

No previous experience with horses is necessary — we provide full training. All volunteers must complete a DBS check, and we offer RDA training sessions to help you gain the skills and confidence you need.

If you're interested in volunteering — whether you can give a few hours a week or just one day a month — we'd love to welcome you to our team.

Competition is a wonderful part of the RDA journey for many of our riders. It provides goals to work towards, an opportunity to showcase the incredible progress that has been made, and a chance to meet other RDA riders from across the region.

The RDA runs competitions at local, regional, and national levels — covering disciplines including dressage, show jumping, vaulting, and more. All competitions are adapted to make them accessible to riders with a wide range of disabilities.

Watching a rider — perhaps someone who has never been on a horse before — performing a dressage test with poise and confidence is one of the most moving experiences you can have. Our riders and volunteers are justifiably proud of everything they achieve together.

We also hold our own in-house competitions and shows throughout the year, which are open to all our riders and make for wonderful community days for families and supporters.

South West Cornwall RDA is a charity in its own right, and like all charities, fundraising is an important part of what we do. The costs of running a group — horses, equipment, insurance, training, and facilities — are significant, and we rely on the generosity of our supporters to keep going.

Over the years, we have held an enormous variety of fundraising events:

All funds raised go directly towards buying and caring for our horses, purchasing specialist equipment, and making our sessions as enjoyable and effective as possible for our riders.

If you would like to help with fundraising, or have an idea for an event, we'd love to hear from you!