Riding for the disabled - South Australia

What Riding for the disabled - South Australia does

Riding for the Disabled South Australia Inc. (RDA SA) is a non-profit charitable organisation incorporated in 1972 and headquartered at 3A Majors Road, O'Halloran Hill, delivering equine-assisted activities to people with disabilities across South Australia. It operates nine volunteer-run centres spanning metro Adelaide (O'Halloran Hill, Jennibrook Farm at Woodcroft, Northern Area at Globe Derby Park) and regional/rural locations (Mt Gambier, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Southern Fleurieu at Victor Harbor, Oakbank, Yorke Peninsula at Kadina). Participants aged 3 to 85 access a portfolio of programs: Riding (mounted games, dressage, show jumping, recreational), Carriage Driving, Ground-Based Programs (grooming, leading, unmounted sessions, Supported Volunteering), Pony School for children, and a competition pathway extending from internal centre events through to Special Olympics and the international Hope Cup in Taiwan. Coaches hold National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS) credentials and complete a 4-year review cycle. Service delivery is volunteer-intensive, with NCAS-trained volunteer coaches, horse leaders and side walkers supporting sessions scheduled around SA school terms.

RDA SA became a registered NDIS provider in July 2013 under line item 04_104_0125_6_1 (Assistance to access community, social and recreational activities), enabling NDIS-funded session support fees (AUD $70.23 weekday, $98.83 Saturday per hour), plus client-paid activity fees of $30/session and an annual $100 registration fee. NDIS plans currently fund up to 40 sessions per participant per year. Beyond service fees, revenue is generated through one-off and recurring donations, a structured horse sponsorship programme (covering feed, farrier, vet/dentistry, saddle fitting and physio), merchandise sales via an external Sports Centre storefront, Entertainment Membership resales at $70, and ticketed fundraising events including the inaugural 2026 Gala Dinner and Golf Classic. The organisation is governed by a volunteer Board chaired by Michael Scott ASM OAM, with executive leadership by Leanne Sanders (Executive Officer), supported by an Operations Manager, Finance Manager, and a volunteer Finance Officer. RDA SA is part of the worldwide HETI movement and affiliated with the national Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia.

The business is structured as an incorporated association with no equity ownership; no venture or private equity capital is involved. Tech stack is minimal: website CMS, Snapforms for enquiry/membership forms, Humanitix for event ticketing, and Sports Centre for merchandise — there is no proprietary technology platform, no app, and no API surface. Marketing is community-led, leveraging Facebook, Instagram, a quarterly newsletter, the two annual signature events, and word-of-mouth through volunteer and family networks.

Name

Riding for the disabled - South Australia

Legal name

Riding for the Disabled South Australia Inc

Website

https://rdasa.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Riding for the Disabled South Australia Inc. is a 1972-founded, non-profit registered NDIS provider operating nine volunteer-run centres statewide, delivering therapeutic horse riding, carriage driving, and ground-based equestrian programs to people with disabilities aged 3 to 85, funded by NDIS session fees, donations, sponsorships, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Equine-Assisted Therapy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Recreational Outings, Community Participation & Mobility Support (Non-Clinical) (HSABAAAI)

Keywords

• Equine-assisted therapy
• Therapeutic horse riding
• Disability services
• NDIS provider
• Recreational riding programs

Headquarters

HQ city

O'Halloran Hill

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Participant Session Fees: Fees comprising annual registration ($100), activity fees ($30/session), and NDIS session support fees ($70.23 weekday, $98.83 Saturday). NDIS funds allocated under Assistance to access community, social and recreational activities line item.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations (one-off, monthly, regular donor programs), horse sponsorship programs covering feed, farrier, vet/dentistry, saddle fitting and physio costs, and bequest/legacy giving through wills.
3. Merchandise and Membership Sales: Entertainment Memberships sold at $70 providing discount offers on food, dining, travel, retail, attractions. Merchandise available through external sportscentre.com.au store.
4. Volunteer Services: Volunteers provide essential service delivery without cost, reducing operational overhead and enabling program delivery across 9 centres.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Riding for the Disabled South Australia is a nonprofit organisation providing opportunities for anyone with a disability to participate in horse-related activities including therapeutic horse riding, carriage driving, and unmounted horsemanship programs across 9 centres in South Australia. Services are delivered by NCAS-accredited volunteer coaches and supplemented by donation programs, sponsorship schemes, and fundraising events. As a registered NDIS provider since 2013, RDA SA claims session support fees directly from participant NDIS plans.

Product overview

Riding for the Disabled South Australia is a nonprofit charitable organization operating 9 affiliated centers across South Australia. The organization offers a suite of therapeutic and recreational equestrian programs including the Riding Program (with mounted games, dressage, show jumping, and recreational riding), Carriage Driving Program, and Ground Based Programs (unmounted sessions and Supported Volunteering). The core offering is enhanced through supplementary programs such as Pony School for children and a Competition Pathway (internal, state, national, Special Olympics, and international events). As a registered NDIS provider, the organization delivers services categorized as assistance to access community, social and recreational activities. Revenue generation includes donation programs (one-off, recurring, horse sponsorship, bequests), merchandise sales, Entertainment Membership sales, and fundraising events (Gala Dinner, Golf Classic). The organization also publishes a quarterly newsletter 'RDA Tales: Hooves, Hearts & Heroes'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Riding Program Therapeutic horse riding program providing physical, sensory, psychological, and social benefits for participants with disabilities aged 3-85. Includes mounted games, dressage, show jumping, and recreational riding.
• Carriage Driving Program

Quantifiable outcome

• People with disabilities can participate from age 3 to 85
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Never Never DistillingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Golf Day sponsor for inaugural RDA SA Golf Classic 2026 event at The Vines Golf Club of Reynella.
• AJ TrimminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Golf Day sponsor for inaugural RDA SA Golf Classic 2026 event.
• Des's Mini BusesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Golf Day sponsor for inaugural RDA SA Golf Classic 2026 event.
• Equipro ServicesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Golf Day sponsor for inaugural RDA SA Golf Classic 2026 event.
• Key AssetsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Golf Day sponsor for inaugural RDA SA Golf Classic 2026 event.
• Southern Home ImprovementsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Golf Day sponsor for inaugural RDA SA Golf Classic 2026 event.
• Shane Curnow (Equipro)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Horse sponsor for Cadbury (horse) at Mt Gambier Centre.
• Mike McAuliffe (Rennais)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Horse sponsor for horse at Southern Fleurieu Centre.
• Entertainment PublicationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides Entertainment Membership discount books sold by RDA SA at $70 each as fundraising mechanism.
• Riding for the Disabled Association of AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body for RDA organisations across Australia. Provides national coordination, coach training programs aligned with NCAS, and competition pathways including biennial national competitions.
• Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International (HETI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation representing the worldwide RDA movement. Provides international competition opportunities including Hope Cup held in Taiwan biennially.
• Australian Sports Commission (National Coaching Accreditation Scheme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational body that recognises RDA Coach Education System through NCAS. Provides framework for coach accreditation and ongoing professional development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Riding for the Disabled Victoria (RDA Vic): State-level Riding for the Disabled organisation delivering the same equine-assisted disability programmes across Victorian centres. Directly comparable service mix, NDIS provider status, and volunteer-led centre operating model.
• Riding for the Disabled Australia (RDAA): National governing body for Riding for the Disabled organisations across Australia and the direct parent affiliate of RDA SA. Provides coach training frameworks, national competition pathways, and shared brand standards, making it the closest organisational peer.
• Riding for the Disabled Association (UK): UK counterpart and fellow HETI-affiliated organisation providing horse-based therapy and riding for people with disabilities. Highly comparable mission, programme structure, and accreditation approach at larger scale.
• Riding for the Disabled Western Australia (RDA WA): Western Australian state organisation providing the same suite of riding, carriage driving, and unmounted programmes for people with disabilities under the RDAA umbrella.
• Riding for the Disabled Queensland (RDA Qld): Queensland state body delivering identical equine-assisted disability programmes under the same national RDAA framework. Same NDIS provider status, volunteer-run centre model, and competition pathway.
• Horse Riding for Disabled (HRDI), Ireland: Irish national organisation providing therapeutic horse riding for people with disabilities. HETI-affiliated peer operating a volunteer-and-centre model directly comparable to RDA SA.
• Riding for the Disabled NSW: Sister state organisation providing equine-assisted therapy and recreational riding for people with disabilities in NSW. Operates a comparable multi-centre, volunteer-driven, NDIS-registered model.

Broad incumbents

• Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Large national disability service provider offering NDIS-funded therapies including some exercise-based programmes. Competes for the same NDIS plan dollars as RDA SA but operates at much broader scale and scope.

Emerging players

• Variety Australia: Children's disability charity that sponsors equipment and program access for kids with disabilities. Compares to RDA SA in serving NDIS-eligible children, with shared corporate sponsorship/fundraising mechanics.
• Special Olympics Australia: National disability sport organisation whose athlete pathway overlaps with RDA SA's Competition Programme (which feeds into Special Olympics). Comparable NDIS-relevant disability sports delivery and volunteer-dependent model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RDASAPortLincolnCentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riding-for-the-disabled-south-australia

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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 - South Australia