Samsung RD Center

SAMSUNG’S RIDING FOR THE DISABLED (RD) PROGRAM is one of the latest addition to Samsung’s comprehensive portfolio of animal related activities designed to create greater human-animal understanding in Korea and is the first of its kind to be established by a private company in South East Asia.

The riding for the disabled program initially launched in 2001 currently supports about 120 people a year, the majority of whom are under 12, is underpinned by a scientific methodology and approach, with riders referred to the program by the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department of Samsung Medical Center in Seoul.

A network of around 1000 volunteers supports the initiative by giving their free time to accompany the riders. Since its launch in 2001, nearly 900 riders have benefited from this program.

RD-Samsung became an Associate member of HETI (Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International) in 2001 and assisted development of RDA-Korea which became Full member of HETI in 2004. New building equipped for the handicapped riders was built in 2009, named Samsung RD Center replacing 'RD Samsung'. In 2010, Samsung RD Center became a Premier Accredited Center of PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International), second to be recognized outside of North America.