Seeking our next horse. Got one in mind?
Meet our current horses
Tier 1 Horse Sponsors led by Waikato Thoroughbred Racing
Enormous thanks are extended to our primary horse sponsor Waikato Thoroughbred Racing and the race sponsors of our Charity Race Day - Cambridge Equine Hospital | The Oaks Stud | Ascot Racing | Manning Investments | Group One Turf Bar | Race Images | Shaw's | Saddlery Warehouse |
Terrific Toby
Toby is a 14.1hh, station bred gelding who is a delight to all those who meet him.
He is a very inquisitive pony who is not phased by anything, even from the first day we had him. He's very trusting and a little bit cheeky.
The perfect RDA pony temperament as well as being stocky and small. Toby has been getting out and about recently as it's important for our ponies to get outside stimulation. He recently placed first in a show jumping competition with one of our volunteers (Maddy).
Sponsored by Te Awa Lifecare
Sponsored by Te Awa Lifecare
Bandera the Cowboy Horse
Born 2008
Bandera is a 15.1hh quarter horse/appaloosa gelding.
RDA purchased Bandera in December 2015 from his previous owner who brought him over from Australia in 2010.
He has done a little bit of everything including vaulting for beginners and was leased for a short time to Hamilton RDA.
Bandera loves being the centre of attention, he often insists on it and is very competitive, surging ahead whenever he suspects he's in any sort of race.
Bandera is looking for a sponsor!
Lovely Lulu
Meet Lulu, our delightful 15hh brown and white Pinto Stationbred, on loan from the wonderful team at Stonehill Horse Treks. With the perfect shape and temperament for RDA life, she offers a wonderfully comfortable ride and has quickly won hearts with her sweet, steady nature and big personality. Lulu passed all her testing with flying colours and is a true crowd-pleaser. She is currently recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with a keratoma, with the goal of having her back on board in the near future.
Lulu is looking for a sponsor!
Extraordinary Elmo
Born 2015
Introducing Extraordinary Elmo! When Marvellous Monty needed a sidekick, Elmo trotted in with personality to spare. Full of sass, charm, and cheek, Elmo is already calling the shots in this dynamic duo.
This pint-sized powerhouse is perfect for our Beyond the Saddle unmounted programme, where his bold nature and curious mind will help teach confidence, care, and connection.
And of course, he’ll be joining Monty on all sorts of adventures and gallivanting – because every hero needs a fabulous sidekick, and Elmo was born for the spotlight!
Elmo is looking for a sponsor!
Kiwi
Kiwi is the sweetest little mare you could ever hope to meet, with a delicate frame and a heart as big as her 14.1hh stature. Leased to us by a generous benefactor, she's the gentle soul of the team, always ensuring her riders feel safe and cared for. With her super sensitive nature, she responds to the lightest touch, making every ride with her a delight.
Her love for her riders is clear in the way she looks after them, always alert and ready to guide them with the greatest care. Kiwi’s sensitivity and kindness make her a beloved and irreplaceable member of the crew.
Kiwi is looking for a sponsor.
Kiwi is looking for a sponsor!
Cream Puff
At 15hh, Cream Puff is a spring chicken and blessed with an amazing colour called a Cremello. She has what's called a 'cream gene' which can produce several different coat colours. The main effect is that the gene produces a lighter eye, skin and coat.
Did you know? Because Creamy is a cremello, she has to wear a sun mask to protect her from our harsh sun.
Dreamy Creamy is a delight. She often puts on a gruff face to make you think she doesn't adore you, but really, deep down she is a total cream puff!
Cream Puff is looking for a sponsor!
Buddy
Born 2010
Meet Buddy – our delightful new man on the block! 🐴
Born in 2010, Buddy is a handsome 15hh bay Standardbred with a big heart and an even bigger personality. He’s strong, steady, and has a beautiful walk that’s perfect for our riders. While he takes his meals very seriously (we don’t mess with Buddy’s food!), he’s gentle and affectionate, especially with his beloved paddock mate, Lulu.
Since arriving, Buddy has settled into the RDA life like an absolute pro. He’s been a breeze to introduce to our environment and is already making a difference.
We’re incredibly lucky to have him on loan from the wonderful team at Stonehill Treks for 18 months – and maybe even longer. Thank you, Stonehill – we adore him already!
Sponsored by 'you'?
Buddy is looking for a sponsor!
Cruz the Clown
Cruz is a 15.1 Appaloosa with a personality as bold as his spotted coat. Despite his age, he has a youthful spirit, always brimming with energy and mischief.
Known for his hilarious antics, Cruz never misses an opportunity to make those around him laugh with his funny faces and playful behaviour. He's a true clown at heart, bringing joy and entertainment to everyone he meets. Whether he's goofing around in the paddock or making light of a serious moment, Cruz's cheeky charm and infectious humour make him a beloved character who brightens any day.
Cruz is looking for a sponsor!
Cruz is looking for a sponsor!
Legendary Leo
Legendary Leo truly lives up to his name. Now on lease to RDA, Leo has had an impressive past career as a hunter and even travelled all the way from England at just six years old when his owner immigrated. At 18, he may be officially retired from competition, but Leo still needed a job to do—and lucky for us, RDA is where he landed.
The biggest horse on our team, Leo is also easily one of the gentlest. Handsome, strong, steady, and incredibly kind, he has an undeniable wow factor that captures hearts the moment you meet him. Loved by riders, volunteers, and staff alike, Leo brings calm confidence and quiet reassurance to everything he does, making him a truly special part of our RDA family.
Leo is looking for a sponsor!
Marvellous Monty
Born 2004
Marvellous Monty is a 9hh chestnut gelding, purchased by the RDA in April 2016 (along with his cart and harness).
Monty has made quite a name for himself, visiting rest homes and spreading his love to everyone. He’s officially famous now, leaving a fabulous hoofprint wherever he goes! Marvellous Monty successfully completed his hospital visit and conquered the lifts (although not his favourite) and he’s become quite the local celebrity here in Cambridge! At home, Monty also works in-hand with our riders, bringing plenty of giggles and good vibes to every session. And the latest?
Sponsored by Ascot Farm
Perfect Pepsi
Pepsi stands at 13.2hh and what she lacks in size, she makes up in sweetness.
You couldn't wish for a more lovely little pony. She's a lady and a cheeky girl, all rolled into one - it's what makes her a crowd favourite. She has a very naughty habit of jumping or pushing through electric tape to get to the greener grass but this just makes her more endearing.
Pepsi has a fan club - if you met her you'd understand why!
Pepsi is looking for a sponsor!
Gorgeous Goldie
Meet Goldie, our stunning 14hh palomino gelding and one of the newest members of our pony team. Born in 2016, Goldie is quite simply beautiful—so much so that we affectionately call him our Barbie pony. With his golden coat and eye-catching presence, he truly lives up to his name.
Coming from a competitive background, we weren’t quite sure how Goldie would adapt to life at RDA. Any doubts were quickly put to rest. He passed all his assessments with flying colours and has already become a firm favourite with riders, volunteers, and staff alike. Goldie has the most gorgeous temperament, kind and willing, and accommodates everyone he meets with the nicest of manners. He’s gold through and through. 💛
Goldie is looking for a sponsor!
Kino
Meet Kino, our 15.1hh Northland bush pony who is strong, capable, and the perfect height for RDA. With a temperament ideally suited to the role, Kino brings calm confidence to everything he does. Now firmly pals with Goldie, he too passed his assessments with flying colours.
Having graduated into the programme, Kino has truly stepped up for some of our more challenging riders, consistently showcasing his excellent temperament. Trusted and admired by both riders and volunteers alike, Kino is proving himself to be a reliable and much-valued member of the team.
Kino is looking for a sponsor!
Know of a horse that may be suitable for RDA? Let us know
Help us find the perfect fit
From time to time we are looking for another horse to fill a gap in our programme. This may be a bigger horse for our adult or heavier riders, or a pony for our littlies.
We have a very comprehensive process for assessing and choosing a suitable RDA horse which involves an initial assessment and a trial period which is very important where possible, to establish if a horse may be suitable. We have some very vulnerable children and adults riding our horses, so we must be sure we have just the right one.
Horse suitability for RDA
Temperament is the most important thing when choosing an RDA horse and even though your horse may be perfectly well-behaved at your place with you and your family, they may not fit into the RDA setting.
Some horses can find RDA work very stressful with having some very unbalanced riders on them as well as many different volunteers working with them on any given day.
We try our best to manage every horse's needs, including any extra schooling or exercise they may need with balanced, experienced riders.
Many horses are not suitable for RDA due to their temperament, size, gait or soundness.
We follow up on all offers that appear to meet our initial criteria. If you think your horse may be suitable – please get in touch.
A heartfelt thank you to our valued horse sponsors
Your support is the backbone of our programme, enabling us to make a positive impact on the lives of many. Click on the logos below to visit our generous sponsors' websites. Together, we're making a difference—one hoofbeat at a time. Thank you for riding alongside us!
Thank you to all the horses that have been part of our RDA team at some point since 2000.
Appy | Aslan | Brave | Cinnamon | Coolie | Kupe | Larry | Major | Billie | Bart | Meg | Midnight | Misty | Nordy | Paddy2 | Phoenix | Rolly | Precious | Paki | Ruby | Sam | Sassy | Sophie | Taheke | Tarsh | Tonka | Tully | Wendy | Heidi | Buddy | Blaze | Trixie | Kahna | Vogue | Pippa | Paddy | Woody | Willie | Lacey | Candy | Dusty