Riding for the Disabled Top End Inc

What Riding for the Disabled Top End Inc does

Riding for the Disabled Top End Inc is an associate member centre of Riding for the Disabled Association Australia (RDAA), operating as a local nonprofit in the Northern Territory delivering therapeutic horse riding and horse-related activities to people with disabilities. RDAA itself is the national peak body, founded in 1964, recognised by Sport Australia, and operates through a federated model of 4 full state member bodies and 12 associate member centres spanning 70+ communities across all Australian states and territories. Annually, the federation delivers over 50,000 riding lessons to more than 2,200 participants with intellectual, physical, sensory, and learning disabilities, supported by over 3,000 volunteers contributing nearly 400,000 hours of service.

Core products include therapeutic horse riding programs (from age 3), carriage driving, vaulting, and national/international competition pathways including Paralympic participation. Supporting these are a three-stage nationally accredited coach training program (Assistant Coach, Level 1, Level 2) recognised by Sport Australia, a volunteer training program, the annual CANTER CON coaching conference (co-organised with Equestrian Australia and Pony Club Australia), and a merchandise shop. Underlying technology is minimal: a basic learning management system (RDA Arena), website-based donations and ticketing, and standard e-commerce; no proprietary technology platform is referenced.

The revenue model is donation-driven and diversified: tax-deductible individual donations (from $2 upwards, processed online, by mail, or via Good2Give workplace giving), bequests and in memoriam gifts, corporate sponsorships (GOW-Gates Insurance Brokers, Petstock Foundation, Horseland, Australian Sports Commission), NDIS service provision by registered centres, event revenue (CANTER CON tickets at $295 early-bird), and merchandise sales ($5-$350). The customer base consists of participants (people with disabilities), volunteers, corporate sponsors/donors, and aspiring coaches, with community-led go-to-market through local centres, referral networks (including disability service providers such as Novita Children's Services), and digital channels (website, Facebook, email).

Name

Riding for the Disabled Top End Inc

Legal name

Riding for the Disabled Association Australia Limited

Website

https://rda.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Riding for the Disabled Top End Inc is a Northern Territory nonprofit and associate member of RDAA, delivering therapeutic horse riding and equestrian programs to people with disabilities through a volunteer-driven community centre model supported by donations, NDIS funding, and corporate sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Equestrian Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

Keywords

• Therapeutic horse riding
• Disability equestrian programs
• Adaptive riding services
• Coach accreditation training
• Nonprofit disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

Palmerston, Northern Territory

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: RDA generates significant revenue from public donations. The website features an online donation portal with preset amounts ($2, $10, $50, and custom). Donations over $2 are tax-deductible in Australia. Bequests (legacy giving) and In Memoriam donations are also accepted. Workplace giving programs are facilitated through Good2Give.
2. Merchandise Sales: The online shop sells RDA merchandise including clothing (ladies jodhpurs), accessories (helmet covers), learning tools (AUSLAN sign language flashcards and DVDs), and National Coaches Workshop session recordings. Sales are conducted through the website with per-item shipping charges.
3. Event Revenue (CANTER CON): CANTER CON 2026 is a major national coaching and equestrian education event. Revenue is generated through ticket sales — Early Bird tickets at $295 (exclusive to EA, PCA and RDA members), with Standard tickets at a higher price. Additional revenue comes from trade stall participation and sponsorship.
4. NDIS Service Provision: RDA centres may operate as registered NDIS service providers, generating revenue through disability support funding for program delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Riding for the Disabled Association Australia (RDAA) is a voluntary, nonprofit organisation that provides therapeutic horse riding and horse-related activities (carriage driving, vaulting) for people with intellectual, physical, sensory, and learning disabilities, delivered through a federation of 70+ local centres across Australia. The organisation also runs a nationally accredited three-stage coach training programme (Assistant Coach, Level 1, Level 2), national volunteer training, a national competition pathway (including Paralympics), and the annual CANTER CON coaching conference.

Product overview

Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia (RDAA) is a nonprofit organization providing therapeutic horse riding and equestrian programs for people with disabilities. The organization's primary offerings include therapeutic horse riding programs (starting from age 3), carriage driving, and vaulting delivered through a network of over 70 accredited centres across Australia. Supporting these core programs are the RDA National Coach Training Program (a three-stage accreditation system: Assistant Coach, Level 1, Level 2) and Volunteer Training Program. The organization also operates CANTER CON, an annual national coaching conference, and runs a merchandise shop selling branded clothing, accessories, and learning tools including Sign Language DVDs and Flashcards for equestrian coaching. National competition programs provide pathway opportunities from state to national and international levels including Paralympics and Special Olympics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Therapeutic Horse Riding Programs
• RDA National Coach Training Program
• CANTER CON Conference
• RDA Helmet Cover
• RDA Ladies Jodhpurs
• Sign Language DVD (AUSLAN for Equestrian Coaching)
• Sign Language Flashcards (AUSLAN for Equestrian Coaching)
• 2023 National Coaches Workshop Session Recordings

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,200 people with disabilities benefit from RDA programs each year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GOW-Gates Insurance BrokerscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 March 2026GOW-Gates Insurance Brokers is the Naming Rights Partner for CANTER CON 2026 — Australia's premier coaching and equestrian education event. GOW-Gates has a long-standing commitment to supporting equestrian sport across Australia, providing trusted insurance expertise and championing safety, education, and community development. Their partnership strengthens the foundation of CANTER CON and supports the growth of coaching and volunteer pathways nationwide.
• Petstock FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPetstock Foundation is listed as a partner of RDA Australia, appearing in the Our Partners section of the website. Petstock is a pet supplies retailer with a foundation that supports animal-related charitable initiatives.
• Australian Sports CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is listed as a partner and is backing CANTER CON 2026. The ASC's support has reinforced the importance of creating a shared space where coaches feel valued, supported and part of something bigger. RDA Australia joined the Sport Australia NSOD Alliance in 2019.
• HorselandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorseland, an Australian equestrian retailer, is listed as a partner in the Our Partners section of the RDA website.
• Equestrian AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquestrian Australia (EA) is a co-organiser of CANTER CON 2026 alongside Pony Club Australia and RDA. EA is the national governing body for equestrian sport in Australia. The event brings together coaches from across EA, PCA and RDA pathways.
• Pony Club AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPony Club Australia (PCA) is a co-organiser of CANTER CON 2026 alongside Equestrian Australia and RDA. PCA is the national governing body for pony club activities in Australia. The event creates cross-discipline collaboration and shared learning opportunities for coaches across all three organisations.
• Good2GiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGood2Give is a workplace giving platform used by RDA to facilitate workplace giving programs. Many workplaces use Good2Give to implement workplace giving for their employees, directing donations to RDA.
• Sportscentre.com.au (Partner Store)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRDA merchandise (clothing) is also available for purchase through a partner store at sportscentre.com.au. This extends the reach of RDA's merchandise sales beyond the main rda.org.au shop.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Horseland: National equestrian retailer and listed RDA partner. Comparable as a sponsor/ecosystem participant within the Australian equestrian community rather than a direct service competitor.
• Petstock Foundation: Charitable arm of Petstock supporting animal-welfare initiatives and listed RDA partner. Comparable as a corporate philanthropy counterpart and potential funder of equine welfare programs.

Direct peers

• Equestrian Australia: National governing body for equestrian sport in Australia and co-organiser of CANTER CON with RDA. Highly comparable on discipline (equestrian), national federation structure, coach accreditation, and competition pathways including Para-dressage.
• Sport Inclusion Australia: National organisation providing sporting opportunities for people with intellectual impairments across multiple sports. Comparable participant base, federated centre model, and competition pathways; overlaps directly with RDA's therapeutic riding cohort.
• Special Olympics Australia: Provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Australia. Closely comparable participant base, volunteer-driven delivery model, and reliance on donations and corporate sponsorship.
• Paralympics Australia: National peak body for elite disability sport in Australia. Directly comparable to RDA as a Sport Australia-recognised disability sporting organisation; both prepare athletes for international Para competition and depend on donations, sponsorships, and government backing.
• Pony Club Australia: National body for pony club activities in Australia and CANTER CON co-organiser. Comparable federated structure, volunteer-driven local centres, coach training programs, and youth equestrian participation focus.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Sports Commission: Federal government agency that funds and recognises national sporting organisations, including RDA. Comparable as the umbrella funding/recognition body across Australian sport but operates at much broader scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Riding-for-the-Disabled-Association-of-Australia-RDAA-135449168732
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riding-for-disabled-in-the-top-end

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Riding for the Disabled Top End Inc