Riding for the Disabled
📍 Hillmorton, Canterbury
Christchurch Riding for the Disabled provides goal-based therapeutic riding at the A&P Showgrounds on Curletts Road. Volunteer-run with an indoor arena, pram-accessible grounds, and a horse sponsorship programme.
How awesome to have this place in Christchurch, for our disabled children and adults, to attend, if they are lucky enough to get funding from the government, for the children etc, or you can pay for this service per term yourself. What a difference it makes to their lives. The volunteer staff are amazing and ponies/horses are so well trained. Did you know that you can donate to help out, directly to RDA at the Curletts Rd, A&P Showgrounds, to help with riding gear, feed, stables, horse shoes, purchase of horses etc or even sponsor the costs for a horse. What a well run and respected organisation, we have here in ChCh, to help others less fortunate, especially children, with many different health issues. My youngest grandson, with autism, ADHD and sensory problems, hugely benefits from this service. I go to watch him as often as I can, to see him progressing weekly.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
For families with disabled children, reviewers describe seeing weekly progress that goes beyond what they expected — one grandmother comes to watch her grandson with autism and ADHD improve with each session. The volunteer team and horses are described as simply amazing.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →48 Google reviews
Gail Thomson
10 months ago
“How awesome to have this place in Christchurch, for our disabled children and adults, to attend, if they are lucky enough to get funding from the government, for the children etc, or you can pay for this service per term yourself. What a difference it makes to their lives. The volunteer staff are amazing and ponies/horses are so well trained. Did you know that you can donate to help out, directly to RDA at the Curletts Rd, A&P Showgrounds, to help with riding gear, feed, stables, horse shoes, purchase of horses etc or even sponsor the costs for a horse. What a well run and respected organisation, we have here in ChCh, to help others less fortunate, especially children, with many different health issues. My youngest grandson, with autism, ADHD and sensory problems, hugely benefits from this service. I go to watch him as often as I can, to see him progressing weekly.”
Florence Cuillé
2 years ago
“The best place both for the riders and the volunteers! Pippa and the rest of the team (horses included) are simply amazing, they ensure that the sessions are tailored to everyone's needs. It is an absolute pleasure to go to this happy place once a week! Thank you for your kindness and your expertise.”
Vanessa Diaz
7 years ago
“What an amazing job they do for the community. If you have the chance, please contribute cause they are only based on donations and you can also sponsor some of the horses. Volunteers are doing an amazing job, contributing to grow and the day to day activity.”
Angela Larsen
5 years ago
“Great facilities for the horse riding therapy and great yards and paddocks for the horses”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Christchurch Riding for the Disabled delivers therapeutic riding at the A&P Showgrounds in Hillmorton. Trained volunteers and well-schooled horses are matched to each rider's needs. Sessions are goal-based, tracking progress in strength, balance, and confidence each term. The programme serves riders with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other conditions. An indoor arena allows year-round sessions. Horse sponsorship lets members of the community support the programme directly.
