Charles Owen, the world-leading manufacturer of riding safety equipment, has announced a new partnership with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).

This long-term collaboration unites the two recognised British brands under a shared commitment to rider safety.

Owned by the great grandson of Charles Owen himself, the Wrexham based business has been manufacturing or designing protective equestrian headgear and body protection since 1911 with the mission of “honouring the past, inspiring the future”

The RDA charity, through its network of nearly 430 groups across the UK, works with more than 39,000 disabled people a year to improve health, wellbeing and life opportunities by enabling interaction with horses to support confidence, independence and social connection.

As part of the agreement, Charles Owen will offer RDA participants exclusive discounts on its premium riding helmets body protectors and other safety equipment.

Michael Bishop, chief executive of the RDA, said: “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Charles Owen, whose passion for safety matches our own as we use the power of horses to change the lives of disabled people across the UK.

“Riding hats are one of the biggest expenses our RDA groups face, so being able to offer exclusive savings on Charles Owen helmets and body protectors is something we’re proud to make a reality.

“The timing of this announcement is particularly fitting, coming as it does in the middle of our Summer of Inclusion campaign, which highlights the importance of ensuring disabled children and young people have access to inclusive activities and opportunities.”

Dave Derby, chief executive of Charles Owen, said: “We’ve been talking to the RDA for a while and now those discussions have culminated in this partnership to give riders at the RDA’s 400 plus centres discounted access to premium safety equipment.

“Safety is at the heart of everything we do, so it is important we partner with like-minded, safety-conscious organisations to ensure that message reaches as many riders as possible. The RDA does extraordinary work changing lives through horses, and we are proud to help protect the riders at the centre of it.”

This partnership with the RDA reflects the manufacturer’s wider strategy of aligning with safety-conscious equestrian bodies, following recent partnerships with British Eventing, British Show Jumping and Bicton International Horse Trials.

With the slogan “nobody left in the shade,” the RDA’s ‘Summer of Inclusion’ campaign aims to ensure no disabled children or young people are excluded or forgotten during the summer months, when access to inclusive activities can often be limited.

“Summer should be a time of adventure, friendship and fun, but for many disabled children it can be a time of isolation and missed opportunities,” said Vicki Rowles, Director of Fundraising at RDA UK.

“With the support of donors, volunteers and local communities, we can help more disabled children access these life-changing experiences.”