Horse Riding | Equestrian Sports
Para-equestrian sport and adaptive horse riding open the world of equestrianism to riders with a wide range of physical and sensory disabilities.
Offering freedom, connection, and movement in a uniquely powerful way.
Whether enjoyed recreationally or pursued competitively — these programmes provide a safe, supportive environment where riders develop balance, coordination, confidence, and deep partnership with their horses. With tailored instruction, adaptive equipment, and graded classification systems, para-equestrian sport ensures that every rider can participate meaningfully, progress at their own pace, and experience the joy and independence that come from working with horses.
What Assistance are you Looking for?
1. About Horse Riding
2. Classifications
3. Benefits of Horse Riding
4. Equestrian in South Africa
5. South African Riding for the Disabled Association S.A.R.D.A
6. How to join
About Horse Riding
Equestrian sport includes a wide range of horseback activities such as riding, driving, steeplechasing, and vaulting. For athletes with disabilities, the recognised competitive discipline is Para Dressage—the only equestrian sport featured in the Paralympic Games.
Equestrian events have been part of the Olympics for many years and were formally introduced into the Paralympic programme in Atlanta 1996.
The sport is open to riders with physical or visual impairments, and athletes compete in mixed events grouped according to functional ability.
Para Dressage includes a set championship test, a freestyle test performed to music, and a team test with three to four riders. Competitors are assessed on precision, control, and harmony with the horse, and may use approved adaptive equipment such as dressage crops, connecting rein bars, rubber bands, and other aids to support safe and effective riding.
2. The Classification System
Riders are assigned to five different sport classes. Para-equestrian dressage riding consists of five sport classes called ‘grades’ for athletes with Physical and Visual impairments. Lower grades indicate more severe activity limitations and higher grades include athletes with less severe activity limitations.
CLASS
CONDITIONS
GRADE 1A
Athletes who have severe impairments affecting all limbs and the trunk, these athletes usually require the use of a wheelchair in daily life.
GRADE 1B
These Athletes here have either a severe impairment of the trunk and minimal impairment of the upper limbs or moderate impairment of the trunk, upper and lower limbs. Most athletes in this class use a wheelchair in daily life.
GRADE 2
Athletes in this class have severe impairments in both lower limbs with minimal or no impairment of the trunk or moderate impairment of the upper and lower limbs and trunk. Some athletes in this class may use a wheelchair in daily life.
GRADE 3
Athletes in grade III have a severe impairment or deficiency of both upper limbs or a moderate impairment of all four limbs or short stature. Athletes in grade III are able to walk and generally do not require a wheelchair in daily life. Grade III also includes athletes having a visual impairment equivalent to B1 (very low visual acuity and/ or no light perception).
GRADE 4
Athletes here have a mild impairment of range of movement or muscle strength or a deficiency of one limb or mild deficiency of two limbs. Grade IV also includes athletes with visual impairment equivalent to B2 (higher visual acuity than visually impaired athletes) competing in the grade III sport class and/ or a visual field of less than five degrees radius.
Athletes with the following impairments are eligible to compete in para-equestrian:
– Impaired muscle power
– Athetosis
– Impaired passive range of movement
– Hypertonia
– Limb deficiency
– Ataxia
– Leg length difference
– Short stature
– Visual impairment
3. Benefits of Horse-Riding
Horse Riding provides many benefits and is available in South Africa, as a Sport in Equestrian events, a form of Therapy or just for fun as a Hobby. Horse Riding Therapy and Hippotherapy is available in most Provinces in South Africa and is supplied by companies and organizations such as Tumanako Equine Therapy.
Equestrian is also one of the sports that are available for persons with Mobility Impairments at the Paralympics.
Persons with varying forms of Mobility Impairments can benefit from Horse Riding, including persons with:
– Amputations
– Brain Injuries
– Cerebral Palsy
– Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) / Stroke
– Multiple Sclerosis
– Muscular Dystrophy
– Spina Bifida
– Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
– Read More: …..
4. Equestrian In South Africa
There are a number of Horse riding or Equestrian organizations or clubs available for persons with disabilities in South Africa, including SASCOC, The South African Equestrian Association-SAEA, South African Equestrian Federation and the South African Riding for the Disabled Association (S.A.R.D.A.)
South African Equestrian Federation: The SAEF are the representative body for Equestrian Sport in South Africa registered with SASCOC and the representative for South Africa at the FEI. As the officially registered federation under SASCOC, it is governed by the rules and regulations of the Sports Act as well as the rules and regulations of the FEI.
As the representative for equestrian sport with the regulatory bodies, the SAEF are responsible for:
– Adherence of the Sports Act, rules and regulations of SASCOC and Discipline Constitutions in the Republic of South Africa by its members.
– The SAEF are also responsible for supporting members in obtaining Protea Colours. The biggest task currently faced is the support towards Disciplines with funding to enable development of the sport.
5. South African Riding for the Disabled Association S.A.R.D.A.
South African Riding for the Disabled Association S.A.R.D.A. was established in Cape Town in 1973 by Belinda Sampson and Joy Finlay. At first they started with one horse and a monetary donation, but because the results were so successful, the method of therapeutic riding became popular, with more and more people wanting to try to improve different abilities. Today, there are two centres in Cape Town (in Constantia and Noordhoek) and even branches in Durban, Gauteng, Pietermaritzburg and Port Elizabeth.
SARDA’s aim is to provide the opportunity of therapeutic and recreational horse riding for disabled people so that they might benefit in all aspects of their mental, physical and social lives. teach horse riding to people living with disabilities. Special needs schools from all over Cape Town bring learners on a weekly basis. We also hold classes for children and adults who don’t attend these schools.
SARDA is affiliated to the RDA in the United Kingdom and the Federation for Disabled Riding International.
SARDA Cape Town practises its work according to the RDA principles which means teaching people living with disabilities to ride, done by qualified Riding for the Disabled instructors, who may or may not be therapists. Ultimate goal is that the RIDERS are taught to ride independently as possible. The riders benefit physically from the movement of the horse and from many other aspects of riding including psycho-social, self-esteem and competing with peers on equal footing.
SARDA encourages equestrians and therapists to learn about the RDA and Hippotherapy practices. Equine Assisted Therapy (ETASA) offer training in Hippotherapy, while SARDA offers training in the practice of RDA. If you are interested in becoming a teacher in either area of expertise, please see our SARDA Volunteers Page for more information. Alternatively, click on link provided to view the website of ETASA.
SARDA at Sleepy Hollow practises Hippotherapy using Physio, Occupational or Speech Therapists in treating children and adults living with disabilities, using the horse as a treatment modality. The ultimate goal is to achieve therapeutic goals and aims. Hippotherapy literally means “treatment with the help of the horse” from the Greek word, “hippos” meaning horse
Special needs schools from all over Cape Town bring learners on a weekly basis. We also hold classes for children and adults who don’t attend these schools.
The minimum age for our riding lessons is 6 years.
6. How to join
Anyone can apply to be put onto our waiting list. Once you have downloaded the application form please take your time to fill it in.
Then return it to us, our Senior Instructor will assess the form and will inform you if your application was successful.
Once your name has been added to the waiting list you are eligible to be considered for any spot that might become available.
Our senior instructor matches the applications to the opening according to age and disability/ability.
For Schools to become part of SARDA’s Riding Program please download the School Form once you filled it in please and send it to capetown@sarda.co.za or fax it to 0866953409. Application form for: South African Riding for the Disabled Cape Town Branch.