HorsePower Australia previously known as Riding for the Disabled Association of WA Inc. (RDAWA) is a registered voluntary, charitable not for profit organisation that provides people with diversabilities opportunities that empower them to break through physical, cognitive, emotional and social barriers utilising the power of the horse to develop new skills, discover new abilities and define the life they want to live.
Their 14 affiliated member centres provide a variety of programs including riding, carriage driving, vaulting, hippotherapy and walking with horses to people with physical, intellectual, emotional and social challenges each year.
HPower have been providing unique life-changing activities since 1972 and take great pride in the fact that our organisation is largely run by volunteers (96%) within the local communities in which our member centres operate. We are part of a worldwide movement and affiliated with the Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International (HETI) and Disability Sports Australia.
They rely greatly on the generosity of the WA community to provide support and donations that helps us provide therapeutic goal-based activities for children and adults with diversabilities
- Gala dinner had to be cancelled
- Some members get funding for NDIS (they don’t like to fund community recreational programs for under 5's)
- Members will have to pay, $52/hr for riding session,
- The Variety Club is an organisation which supports people as well
- Hopes and horses scholar ship is also available
- Many members are fundraising themselves,
- The horses will need a few weeks to months training, a lot of de-sensation training, i.e. pulling on mane, tail, loud noises etc, much like police horses, is required
- Clydesdale crosses are often used for vaulting, and are a great choice of breed, but the type of breeds that they have on site depends a lot on donations.