Who rides with us?
RDA Victoria provides equestrian activities for people with a wide variety of disabilites.
Each expression of interest to join an RDA Victoria program is assessed by the state office, to ensure that it is safe for the riders to participate in horse riding and related activities.
Every new rider or carriage driver must have their medical consent form signed by their medical practitioner. This is to ensure that it is safe for the individual to participate in the programs.
RDAV Programs include recreational riding (including dressage and jumping), carriage driving, vaulting, therapeutic riding, hippotherapy and horse mastership. Programs are developed and supervised by trained coaches using trained horses and trained volunteers.
Contraindications for riding
Contraindications:
The following WILL preclude an applicant from riding
- Extremely poor head control.
- Excessive, chronic and/or recurring pain, especially as a result of physical activity.
- Pathological fractures – i.e. osteogenesis imperfecta, severe osteoporosis.
- Uncontrolled seizures – categorised by tonic/clonic type occurring more than once a week.
- Acute stage rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
- Open pressure sores, or wounds.
- Unstable spine – including recent spinal injury and/or surgery, atlanto-axial dislocation, spondylolysthesis, acute disc herniation.
- Severe behavioural disorders e.g. aggressive episodes resulting in safety concerns.
- Severe fatigue related conditions i.e. multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, ABI.
- Severe clotting related blood disorders i.e. haemophilia and/or medication/treatments which cause clotting related disorders such as heart conditions/chemotherapy.
- Degeneration/dislocation of the hip joint.
- Excessive weight (90 kgs and above – VCAT Exemption A296/2008).
- Precautions
The following conditions MAY preclude an applicant from riding. A qualified RDAV coach will provide an assessment at the centre and advise whether it is safe or appropriate for the applicant to ride.
- Poor endurance/fatigue related conditions (e.g. MS, MD, ABI).
- Muscle tone abnormalities – high tone (spasticity) or low tone.
- Osteoporosis (permission required by orthopaedic specialist).
- Scoliosis – especially severe and/or fixed (permission required by orthopaedic
specialist). - Spinal fusion with rod type internal fixation, e.g. Harrington or CD rods (permission
required by orthopaedic specialist). - Allergies – especially severe anaphylactic reactions.
- Recent surgery (permission required by surgeon)
- Acquired Brain Injury in past 2 years (permission required by neurologist).
- Heart conditions i.e. postural hypotension, hypertension, coronary artery disease.
- Dysplasia of the hip (permission required by orthopaedic specialist).
- High level spinal cord paralysis.
- Medication – drug dosage negatively affecting physical/cognitive function.
- Thermoregulatory problems e.g. ABI.
- Hydrocephalus/cranial shunt.
- Respiratory conditions – e.g. asthma, chronic airways disease.
- Seizures – type/frequency.
- Gastric feeding tube.
- Skin disorders – especially circulatory and/or impaired sensation.
- Dizziness/fainting.
