Multiple Paralympic gold medallist has begun her comeback to horse sport at the RDA branch where her career began

Natasha Baker OBE has returned to riding for the first time since the birth of her second son,  thanks to support from the West Midlands-headquartered Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) charity.

The 36-year-old has been using a mechanical horse at South Bucks RDA, the branch where she first rode as a nine-year-old.

The multiple Paralympic champion, sponsored by Agria, faces a different path back than after her first pregnancy. Her horse Lottie was sold to Irish Paralympic rider Katie Reilly in late 2024, and she has not ridden since November of that year.

Helping 39,000 people every year

“Riding and competing has been my entire life for 26 years,” she said, having recently welcomed her baby, Oliver, into the world. 

“I need to ask myself the difficult questions and try to work out how and if I can make it work.”

RDA chief executive Michael Bishop said: “Natasha is a shining example of the pathways our nearly 450 local groups provide for 39,000 disabled people across the UK.”

Agria UK chief executive Vicki Wentworth added: “Riding as a young mum always brings challenges, especially for a rider with disabilities, but Natasha will continue to be a huge asset to the horse world.”

The RDA supports more than 39,000 disabled children and adults across the UK each year through horse riding, carriage driving and equine assisted programmes. 

The charity operates across more than 450 centres nationwide and relies on 13,700 volunteers and 1,700 qualified coaches with the aims of improving participants’ mobility, mental health and confidence. 

With 24% of the UK population classified as disabled, RDA’s work addresses one of the country’s most pressing wellbeing challenges.

The power of horses

The RDA uses the power of horses to transform the lives of disabled children and adults across the UK, improving their physical ability, mental wellbeing, confidence and social connection. 

With 90% of participants reporting greater self-confidence, the impact is tangible.

The difference the RDA makes can be seen in this video:

Why businesses back the RDA

Businesses that partner with RDA gain meaningful CSR credentials, demonstrate genuine social purpose, and help sustain a charity whose life-changing work reaches thousands of disabled people every year.

Highlights from the RDA’s 2025 ‘Impact Report

The RDA’s 2025 Impact Report includes the following proofpoints:  

• Mental health: 95% of participants feel calm and focused 
• Social connection: 82% feel more connected to others 
• Confidence and independence: 90% report increased confidence 
• Physical ability: 88% improve balance and coordination 
• Educational engagement: 71% of children and young people are more relaxed at school 
• 80% of parents and carers say these improvements would not have happened without RDA  

One participant said: “Joining RDA has changed my life. The increase in confidence, muscles, strength, balance and mental health has been noticed by family, friends, carers and healthcare professionals. This has given me the ability to do more for myself.”