And the RDA Equine of the Year Award goes to…

Sam, our fabulous carriage driving horse! Find out about the awards and why Sam’s win is such a huge achievement.

Sam is currently our only carriage driving horse, and everyone he meets falls under his spell. This gentle giant is kind and incredibly patient, perfectly qualified to pull the very specially adapted carriage gifted to us by H&L Motors in Hampton through the busy streets of south west London.

Because of Sam, participants who use wheelchairs are able to experience the sights, smells and sounds of being on board a horse, from the security of their chair. And participants with disabilities which may prevent them riding can learn the skills they need to take the reins of the carriage instead.

Sam has achieved so much, including competing at the RDA National Championships and the Royal Windsor Horse Show, and, with his human partner David, winning the Carriage Driving Award 2021 in the Driving for the Disabled Group of the Year category.

We’re proud that with so many fantastic RDA horses worthy of this award that this prestigious prize has gone to our carriage horse.

Natalie admitted that it was very hard to keep this news to herself until the RDA made it public. “We are absolutely delighted that Sam has been recognised with this award. All RDA horses are incredible so for Sam to be recognised is just fantastic. Sam gives so much to so many and for a carriage horse to win is just brilliant, we love him so much and for so many people to hear about his magic is phenomenal.”

Read more about the RDA Annual Award Winners 2024.

Read more about Sam and carriage driving at Park Lane Stables in Carriage driving, the next best thing to riding?

If you’d like to celebrate Sam’s success, he’d like nothing more than a donation to help us provide more carriage driving sessions.