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RDA Coach

WEST SUFFOLK GROUP RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION
24,947 per year
Lowlands Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire
Full-time
24th July 2026
Listed today

RDA UK Staff Vacancies

Our volunteer groups around the UK are supported by a dedicated team of RDA UK staff. Below are our current staff vacancies.

Applications close on 24th July. Please send a CV and Cover letter to hr@rda.org.uk

Reports to: Centre Manager

Based at: Lowlands Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire

Flexible working available: This role is advertised as 30 hours per week, Tuesday to Saturday, but we’re happy to consider flexible working patterns. The role can be shared between two or more people, so we’d encourage you to apply even if you can’t work all the advertised hours or days

Contract type: Permanent

Salary Range:  £24,947

Role Purpose:

The RDA Coach is responsible for the planning, coordination, and delivery of safe, effective, and engaging sessions at Lowlands Equestrian Centre. The Coach role ensures that all sessions meet the needs of disabled riders while maintaining high standards of equine welfare, volunteer support, and compliance with RDA guidelines.

Key Responsibilities:

Session Delivery

  • Lead and deliver all ridden sessions, ensuring they are safe, inclusive, and tailored to individual rider needs.
  • Lead other activities at the centre when needed.
  • Complete session risk assessments and retain responsibility for maintaining safety throughout.
  • Take overall responsibility for the effective running of sessions, including setup, delivery, and close-down.
  • Ensure all sessions align with RDA standards and best practice.
  • Coordination of volunteers to ensure adequate support for participants.

Session Planning:

  • Plan structured and progressive ridden sessions to support rider development and enjoyment.
  • Adapt session plans to meet the varying abilities and goals of riders.
  • Contribute to the overall activity plan, identifying ways to increase efficiency, session quality and volume.

Assessment & Rider Development:

  • Carry out rider assessments to facilitate progression and ensure appropriate support is in place.
  • Identify when further advice and therapy support are required to assess safety for riders.
  • Complete and maintain Risk Assessments (RA) relevant to ridden activities.
  • Monitor rider progress and adjust sessions accordingly.

Horse Allocation – In partnership with the Equine Team:

  • allocate suitable horses to riders based on:
    o Rider ability and needs
    o Horse suitability, fitness, and temperament
  • ensure horse workload is appropriate and balanced.

Record Keeping:

  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records for sessions, including:
    o Attendance
    o Rider progress and assessments
    o Any incidents or concerns

Volunteer Coordination & Training

  • Coordinate volunteers for ridden sessions, ensuring appropriate roles are filled (e.g., side walkers, leaders).
  • Provide clear briefings before sessions and debriefs where required.
  • Deliver training and guidance to volunteers to ensure safe and effective support during sessions.
  • Monitor volunteer performance and safety, identifying any training needs or safety concerns and providing the appropriate support where needed.

Health, Safety & Welfare

  • Ensure all sessions operate in line with health and safety requirements and RDA policies.
  • Monitor both rider and horse welfare during sessions, taking action where necessary.
  • Report and record any incidents or concerns promptly

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

  • Coaching qualification (RDA Coach, BHS Stage 2 Coach or equivalent).
  • Experience of delivering ridden sessions, ideally within a therapeutic or educational setting.
  • Strong understanding of equine behaviour, welfare, and suitability for ridden work.
  • Experience of working with volunteers and coordinating teams.
  • Ability to assess rider ability and adapt sessions accordingly.
  • Good organisational and record-keeping skills.
  • Knowledge of health and safety requirements in an equine environment.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Criteria

  • Experience working within an RDA-approved centre or RDA Group.
  • First Aid qualification
  • Safeguarding training.
  • Experience of working with individuals with additional needs or disabilities.

Personal Attributes

  • Patient, empathetic, and supportive approach.
  • Confident leader with the ability to direct sessions effectively.
  • Calm and decisive under pressure.
  • Highly organised and reliable
  • Commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and high welfare standards.
  • Committed to continuously improving coaching practice and development

Applications close 24th July. Please send a CV and cover letter to hr@rda.org.uk

Reports to: Centre Manager

Based at: Lowlands Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire

Hours: Part Time 20 hrs per week, Monday, Friday and Saturday

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £15,859

Role purpose:

The RDA Instructor (Non-Ridden Activities) is responsible for the planning, coordination, and delivery of engaging and inclusive equine-facilitated learning (EFL) and non-ridden sessions at Lowlands Equestrian Centre. The role focuses on supporting individuals with disabilities through meaningful equine-based activities, ensuring a safe, structured, and person-centred approach.

Key Responsibilities

Session Delivery:

  • Plan and deliver all Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) and non-ridden activities, ensuring sessions are safe, inclusive, and purposeful.
  • Lead sessions that promote confidence, communication, independence, and wellbeing.
  • Ensure all activities are aligned with RDA values and best practice.

Session Planning

  • Design and implement structured session plans tailored to the needs, abilities, and goals of each participant.
  • Adapt activities to suit a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional needs.

Individual Support

  • Structure non-ridden sessions to meet individual needs, ensuring each participant is appropriately supported and challenged.
  • Monitor progress and adjust activities to support development and engagement.

Horse Allocation

  • Allocate suitable horses for non-ridden activities based on:
    o Participant needs and abilities
    o Horse temperament and suitability
  • Ensure horses are used appropriately and their welfare is maintained.

Record Keeping

  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date session records, including:
    o Attendance
    o Participant progress and observations
    o Any incidents or concerns

Volunteer Training & Support

  • Identify, train, and support volunteers involved in non-ridden sessions.
  • Provide clear guidance and instruction to ensure safe and effective session delivery.
  • Promote best practice and consistency in volunteer support.

Healthy, Safety & Welfare

  • Ensure all sessions are delivered in line with health and safety policies and RDA guidelines.
  • Monitor the welfare of both participants and horses, taking appropriate action when required.
  • Complete and adhere to relevant risk assessments.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

  • Experience of delivering activities in a disability or therapeutic setting.
  • Strong understanding of inclusive practice and supporting individuals with additional needs.
  • Ability to plan and deliver structured, person-centred sessions.
  • Experience of working with and training volunteers.
  • Good organisational and record-keeping skills.
  • Awareness of health and safety and safeguarding requirements.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Criteria

  • Relevant qualification in Equine Facilitated Learning, RDA coaching, education, or therapy.
  • Experience of working within an RDA-approved centre.
  • First Aid and safeguarding training.
  • Background in education, care, or therapy.
  • Knowledge of equine behaviour and welfare, particularly in non-ridden contexts.

Personal Attributes

  • Patient, empathetic, and inclusive approach.
  • Creative and adaptable in session delivery.
  • Confident and supportive leader.
  • Calm and observant, with strong attention to individual needs.
  • Reliable and well-organised.
  • Committed to promoting wellbeing, inclusion, and high welfare standards.

Applications close on 24th July. Please email hr@rda.org.uk with a CV and cover letter.

Reports to: Centre Manager

Based at: Lowland Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire

Hours: Full Time – 40 hours – Sunday to Thursday

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £27,436

Role Purpose

The Equine Care Assistant supports the day-to-day care and management of equines, ensuring high standards of welfare, cleanliness, and organisation across the yard and Centre. The role involves practical hands-on duties and contributing to the efficient running of daily routines.

Key Responsibilities

Daily Equine Care

  • Carry out routine yard duties to maintain a clean, safe, and organised environment.
  • Undertake mucking out, ensuring stables are hygienic and comfortable.
  • Provide and distribute hay and feed as directed.
  • Undertake general field maintenance, including poo picking to support pasture hygiene and safety.
  • Assist with grooming of horses to maintain health and presentation.
  • Clean and maintain tack and equipment to a high standard.
  • Exercise the equines to keep them at appropriate fitness levels required for their workload

Horse Preparation

Prepare horses for sessions, including:
o Grooming and basic health checks
o Tacking up and untacking
o Ensuring horses are ready and suitable for their planned activities

Routine Oversight

  • Follow and support established daily routines for feeding, turnout, and stable management.
  • Monitor horses for any changes in behaviour, condition, or health and report concerns promptly.
  • Assist in maintaining consistency in care routines across the yard.

General Support

  • Work collaboratively with the wider team to ensure efficient yard operations.
  • Maintain high standards of health and safety at all times.
  • Support additional equine-related tasks as required.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

  • Basic experience working with horses in a yard environment.
  • Knowledge of standard yard duties and equine care practices.
  • Confidence in handling horses safely.
  • Ability to carry out physically demanding tasks.
  • Reliable, punctual, and able to follow instructions.
  • Good awareness of health and safety in an equine setting.

Desiable Criteria

  • Relevant equine qualification or training (e.g., BHS Stage 1 or equivalent).
  • Experience preparing horses for lessons, therapy sessions, or similar activities.
  • Understanding of equine behaviour and basic health indicators.

Personal Attributes

  • Positive and hardworking attitude.
  • Attention to detail and pride in maintaining high standards.
  • Team player with good communication skills.
  • Calm, patient, and welfare-focused approach to working with horses.
  • Willingness to learn and develop skills