Charles Owen partners with Riding for the Disabled Association on safety equipment

Charles Owen, the Wrexham-based manufacturer of riding helmets and body protectors, has entered into a long-term partnership with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). Under the agreement, RDA participants at the charity's network of nearly 430 groups across the UK will get exclusive discounts on Charles Owen's helmets, body protectors and other safety equipment.

RDA chief executive Michael Bishop said riding hats are one of the biggest expenses facing RDA groups, so the discount arrangement removes a real cost barrier for a charity that supports more than 39,000 disabled people a year through interaction with horses. Charles Owen chief executive Dave Derby said the partnership reflects the company's wider strategy of aligning with safety-conscious equestrian organisations, following earlier tie-ups with British Eventing, British Showjumping and Bicton International Horse Trials.

For RDA groups and the volunteers who run them, the practical effect is straightforward: better access to properly fitted, certified safety equipment at a lower cost, for riders who might otherwise make do with older or ill-fitting kit. It is a reminder that welfare and safety in equestrian settings are not only about the horse but about ensuring riders, including those with additional needs, have the protective equipment appropriate to their riding.