June 2014 Recipients
West Coast Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is a Hokitika based organisation that provides therapeutic horse riding for children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. They have been gifted $8,950 to resurface the riding arena and horse yards.
The arena is currently very hard and stony with poor drainage making it difficult to use in its current state. The grant from the Mazda Foundation will enable the facilities to be significantly improved.
Riding therapy provides many physical benefits such as improved circulation, balance, coordination and mobility, and also emotional cognitive benefits in a unique form that is fun and exciting.
Contact with horses is a powerful experience, and the strong bond between the horse and rider has a profound, uplifting effect on people.
