History of Mid Sussex RDA

Our group was founded in 1969 by Ann Holden, who thought that regular riding could benefit the children she worked with who had autism and other similar disabilities. She set up riding sessions with a group of friends and formed the West End Farm Group that rode once a week on Monday mornings.

Downs View School in Brighton also came to ride, with valuable additional support provided by the mounted section of the Brighton Police.

In 1976 the Group moved to Brendon Riding School in Pyecombe and became the Mid Sussex RDA. Adult riders were now included and such was the demand that in 1984 riding sessions were extended to two mornings a week.

In 2011 the Group moved again, this time to the Chestnuts Riding School on A23, just outside Brighton where it now remains.​

Today

At Chestnuts we have the use of a large indoor school and, for when the weather is suitable, an outside school with beautiful views of the South Downs.

We have portable mounting blocks and specialist riding equipment to help our disabled riders.

Our own lovely horse is called Super Ted, and we have the use of other horses and ponies from the riding school, making up a wonderful safe and willing team.

Each week 12 adults and 12 children ride with us, their disabilities covering a range of physical, sensory and mental disorders.

​Our fantastic group of dedicated volunteers turn up every week come rain or shine to support the riders and assist with the lessons. We are always looking for more helpers!                           
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ABOUT RDA

The Association was founded in 1965 as the Advisory Council on Riding for the Disabled with 9 member groups, and became Riding for the Disabled in 1969 when membership had grown to 80 member groups.

​The President at that time was Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk. In 1986 HRH the Princess Royal took over as President. The association now has over 500 member groups which cater for more than 25,000 riders and carriage drivers.