Funding secures weekly therapeutic riding for around 50 Durban children
Therapeutic horse-riding sessions at the South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA) in Summerveld have become a lifeline for dozens of children from the Durban area after a R250 000 funding injection from the Hollywood Foundation, organisers said.
The donation covers vital operational costs that allow SARDA Durban to continue offering specialised sessions free of charge to families who cannot afford private therapy. The programme runs five weekly sessions and supports about 50 children, according to the association.
Parents and carers say the benefits extend beyond improved balance and mobility. For seven-year-old Xayah Rampal, Thursdays have become the highlight of the week. Her mother, Arthi Rampal, described visible changes in her daughter's confidence and daily independence since beginning sessions earlier this year.
"Since starting at SARDA, Xayah is better able to manage her daily routines. Her concentration has improved significantly, and she is becoming far more independent with everyday tasks like brushing her teeth and tidying her room," said Rampal.
Beyond riding, children learn to groom and saddle the horses — activities chosen to develop motor coordination, physical strength and mobility, and to build trust between rider and animal. SARDA Durban chairperson Libby Durk said the organisation relies entirely on volunteers and donations to operate.
- Donor: Hollywood Foundation — R250 000 contribution
- Beneficiaries: Approximately 50 children
- Sessions: Five weekly sessions in Summerveld
- Monthly running costs: R25 000–R30 000
Durk emphasised the practical impact of the funding: it pays for horse care, essential equipment, insurance and lesson costs, ensuring the programme remains accessible to families who would otherwise be unable to participate.
"The donation allows us to run our programme," Durk said, stressing that volunteers are the backbone of the operation. She added that no prior horse experience is necessary to help — only a willingness to work with children with disabilities.
Representing the Hollywood Foundation, marketing manager Vuyi Ngobese said the partnership reflects the foundation's focus on supporting grassroots community upliftment and specialised therapy. The foundation’s funding model aims to preserve services that produce tangible improvements in children's wellbeing.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Donation from Hollywood Foundation | R250 000 |
| Number of children supported | ~50 |
| Weekly sessions | 5 |
| Monthly operating costs | R25 000–R30 000 |
For families like the Rampals, the benefits are both practical and social. Arthi Rampal said her daughter now begins conversations about her riding sessions without prompting and has become more inclined to interact with peers — a change the family attributes directly to the SARDA experience.
Volunteers are involved in all aspects of the sessions, from horse care to helping riders mount and dismount. SARDA Durban encourages people who are interested in volunteering to come forward: the chairperson said the organisation can use help across a range of tasks and that a passion for working with children is more important than prior equestrian experience.
As Durban families contend with limited access to specialised therapies and rising costs, community-based programmes such as SARDA provide an important alternative. The Hollywood Foundation's donation has not only covered immediate expenses, but also allowed the association to plan ongoing programming with greater certainty.
Organisers say continued support from donors and volunteers will be needed to maintain the sessions long term, and to ensure that more local children can continue to benefit from equine-assisted therapy.
