Riding for the Disabled

Wed, May 6th 2026 at 12:40 pm - 2:00 pm

Mark Richardson emphasised the value of this charity to disabled people of all ages.

The guest speaker was Mark Richardson, Chair of East Fife Riding for the Disabled
(RDA), describing to members how this charity has been helping and nurturing
individuals, groups in schools, care homes and supported living centres for the past
50 years. In 1976 farmers John and Lily Mason launched the project at Scooniehill.
The link between the Mason family and the St Andrews Rotary Club is very special:
the St Andrews Rotary Club gifted the second horse to them and our longstanding
member Sylvia Donaldson was one of the original volunteers! In August 2011 the
Scooniehill Group became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO)
and changed its name to East Fife and Scooniehill Riding for the Disabled SCIO.
Today it is called East Fife RDA & Equestrian Group, which represents the wider
community it works for. Mark described the unique connection that can be made
between disabled people and horses. Riding and working with horses can break
down barriers, improve mental and physical wellbeing, help people with dementia to
come alive and create pathways to disability sports and opportunities for creative
expression. This is all the more important, since one in four people in the UK now
live with a disability or long-term condition. Volunteers are vital to the success of East
Fife RDA. Mark is the living embodiment of this: he began as a volunteer when he
retired and became so convinced of the value of the service the charity was
providing that he is now Chair. East Fife RDA’s plans for the next 50 years include
creating a purpose-built therapy centre and providing a mechanical horse. They
would also like to provide a full-time operation to meet the huge demand for their
services. Anyone interested in volunteering or donating to this worthwhile charity,
please visit their website: http://www.eastfiferda.org.uk/about.html Douglas Jackson
gave the vote of thanks.