MRDA provides structured therapeutic riding sessions that support physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing. Using the horse’s natural walking rhythm—which closely mirrors our own—riders experience movement that helps build strength, balance, confidence, and connection, while enjoying a sense of achievement in a supportive environment.
MRDA delivers structured, goal focused riding sessions that support physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing. The unique three dimensional movement of the horse, guided by a natural walking rhythm that closely mirrors our own, engages a rider’s whole body, helping to improve posture, core strength, balance, coordination, and motor planning. This rhythmic movement also supports confidence, communication, and social connection — and, just as importantly, it brings joy. For many riders, time with their pony becomes a highlight of the week: a place where progress feels possible and achievement is celebrated.
We are a registered charity operating under NZ RDA, serving riders from Manawatū, Palmerston North, and Rangitīkei. Supported by families, volunteers, coaches, and staff, we work alongside each rider to support their individual goals and progress.
We are a registered charity operating under the auspices of NZ RDA — powered by volunteers, supported by families, and guided by experienced coaches and staff. Our riders come from across Manawatū, Palmerston North, and Rangitīkei, reflecting the diverse communities we proudly serve. Every person who walks through our gates brings their own story, their own goals, and their own reasons for being here. Our role is to meet them where they are and help them move forward.
We operate from our own property on the outskirts of Feilding. It includes a 30m x 60m covered arena and an administration block together with 3.6ha of grazing area (mostly hills) for the horses.
Volunteers are the heart of every session — side-walkers, horse leaders and helpers. Together they donate over 4,000 hours each year assisting with RDA rides. We also have maintenance volunteers.
Like other RDA groups, around two‑thirds of our costs must be covered by fundraising — from Lotteries grants through to community support and individual donations. Sustainable funding is essential to maintain safe, high‑quality therapeutic riding services.
Running an RDA is financially challenging, even for a cause as deserving as this one. Caring for ponies, maintaining facilities, replacing equipment, training volunteers, and ensuring every session meets national safety standards all carry real and ongoing costs. While our volunteers give generously of their time, we still need real dollars to keep the gates open. Like other RDA groups, around two‑thirds of our costs must be met through fundraising — from Lotteries and grant funding through to sponsorship (in our case, Community Partners) and individual donations — so we can keep sessions running and respond to growing demand from families across the region.
Therefore we are working on building a solid base of funding support from our wider community — Manawatū, Palmerston North, and Rangitīkei, the locations of our riders with our Communuity Partner initiative.
The operative word in our name is riding — and that, by definition, involves our ponies. We’ve arranged a short presentation to introduce them.