Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has announced that Rachel Medill MBE will be the charity’s new Chair of Trustees. Voted in by members at an Extraordinary General Meeting, Rachel will start the new role immediately. The appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process, with exceptional candidates coming forward to be considered for the prestigious post.

Rachel has a lifelong connection with horses. She was shortlisted for junior and young rider British eventing teams and was 14th at Burghley before starting her career in the City of London (as Director of PR, Corporate Communications and Direct Marketing). In 2000, she left the City and has since held various consultancy and board positions, including 5 years as an independent director of the British Equestrian Federation.

In 2008, Rachel founded a charity, Ride High, in order to support children who are vulnerable, isolated, disadvantaged or otherwise struggling to cope with daily life. She developed programmes which use horses to connect with children, and associated educational projects to build confidence and self esteem as well as social, communication and literacy skills. In 2020, having built the organisation into a thriving social enterprise, she stepped back from her full-time role as CEO with the intention of bringing her strategic and business experience to a national leadership role in the charity sector. In 2016 Rachel received an MBE for her services to children.

“We are delighted to welcome Rachel Medill to RDA,” says Chief Executive Ed Bracher. “She joins us at an exciting but undoubtedly challenging time, as we bring our groups out of lockdown and get back to pre-COVID activity levels across the UK. We are finalising our strategy for the next five years – including an ambitious programme of growth and development – and I know we will benefit from Rachel’s experience and understanding of our work.”

Rachel Medill says; “I’m very excited about becoming Chair of Trustees at RDA UK as it combines so much of what I am passionate about. I join a community of people united by their belief in the extraordinary, gentle power of horses to bring happiness and aspiration. In the wake of the pandemic when so many people are struggling I want to encourage the widest range of people to be involved and engaged with the organisation so that we can meet the growing need for our support.”