Riding for the Disabled championships at Hartpury highlight volunteer need
The Riding for the Disabled Association championships at Hartpury highlighted a need for more volunteers and coaches to support the program.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) held its annual championships at Hartpury in Gloucestershire, the largest event of its kind in the UK for disabled competitors. The championships featured disciplines including dressage, show jumping, carriage driving and vaulting. Organisers used the event to highlight a growing need for more volunteers and coaches to support the increasing demand for RDA clubs across the region.
Among the competitors was eight-year-old Clara Stangroom, one of the youngest participants, who attends a riding group near Bradford-on-Avon. Clara, who is recovering her strength and cognitive abilities after major operations, said she started riding about two years ago and initially learned how to get on the horse, stop and control it. She described the feeling of being high up as sometimes scary because she is small for her age. Her sisters attended to cheer her on.
The RDA relies on more than 14,000 volunteers nationwide to run its activities, which reach 39,000 disabled people every year. The association said it is always looking for more people to help, particularly coaches who lead sessions. Gillian Newsome, a long-time riding instructor who adapted her coaching style for her local RDA group, said the work is tremendously rewarding. She noted that volunteers do not need to be good riders or coaches, just willing to help. She described the joy of seeing riders, some of whom use wheelchairs, experience the sensation of mobility on a horse.
The championships demonstrated that for many participants, simply reaching the event is a significant achievement. The RDA believes that horses have the power to heal and build confidence in individuals who have already overcome considerable challenges.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| RDA activities reach 39,000 disabled people every year. | |
| The RDA championships at Hartpury are the largest equestrian event for disabled competitors in the UK. | |
| The RDA relies on over 14,000 volunteers nationwide. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on the personal stories of competitors, particularly young Clara Stangroom, to illustrate the life-changing impact of the RDA. It also emphasised the urgent need for volunteers and coaches, framing the activity as both therapeutic and confidence-building. The tone was warm and supportive, with the anchor expressing admiration for the work.
- “It feels very, very, very high up because I'm small for my age, so sometimes when I think about it, I'm really high up and I get scared.”
- “It is tremendously rewarding. You don't have to be a particularly good rider or you don't have to be a coach, just come and help.”
- “Our activities reach 39,000 disabled people every year, but critical to that and critical to ensuring the quality and standards of our activity is our coaches and they're the people who lead our sessions.”
Broadcast Timeline
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