Lytchett RDA is a team of volunteers offering riding therapy to local children. We have been running weekly riding sessions from Rushall Park Stables in Corfe Mullen ever since 1980, using ponies kindly loaned by Richard Dixon. Our riders are children aged 3 to 10 years with different physical and learning difficulties. Many of them come out to us by minibus from Montacute School. The children really look forward to the contact with the ponies, and greatly enjoy the freedom of movement that riding gives them. At the same time it is helping them to develop core strength, balance and coordination.

 Many of our riders have autistic spectrum disorders, and our games and activities help them in their speech and understanding. They also form strong bonds with our wonderful kind ponies, and greatly look forward to coming to ride. Their parents and the school staff also recognize and greatly appreciate the beneficial effects of these weekly sessions. Our wonderful team of volunteers really enjoy them too, and they are just as delighted as the children by every little milestone achieved.

 In February 2017 we began operating on a second morning each week, so that we now run sessions every Thursday and Friday morning during school term time. This has allowed us to nearly double the riding opportunities that we can offer to local children. In the 2018-2019 school year we gave over 420 rides to 40 different riders. This would not have been possible without the support of our many benefactors. Their generous donations pay for the hire of the ponies and the purchase of riding and play equipment. The Corfe Mullen Carnival Committee have always been one of our greatest supporters, and we have benefited enormously from their generosity in the past. So we are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as one of the Carnival charities again this year, and we are very grateful to all of the Committee for their continuing support.

 We are always pleased to welcome new volunteers too! Find out more about us at www.lytchettrda.org.uk