'Riding horses helps with my disability'

William has been riding horses for 10 years and says it helps with his mobility

For 15-year-old wheelchair user William, being given the opportunity to ride horses is not just an enjoyable hobby - it is helping him regain some mobility.

The teenager is among hundreds of young people who have been helped by Scropton Riding for the Disabled (RDA) over the past 60 years.

William, from Ashbourne, has been riding horses for a decade now and says: "It's incredible. First of all, it's great physio for me and it's fun as well. It really helps my muscles and my legs."

The centre, located on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border is now marking its 60th anniversary with a major fundraising push.

William rides on a hoist-trained horse called Poppy

William has been riding horses since he was five but recently take a five-month break after major surgery.

"I felt very down, but being back here again, it's really lifted my spirits. I feel very independent," he said.

The teenager even organised his own fundraising appeal to help the centre bring in a specially trained horse.

"Scropton lost a horse, Hercules, and he was the only hoist-trained horse at this centre, so I decided that I wanted to help," he said.

"I did a sponsored wheelchair push around JCB lake at Rocester and I raised £3,820."

William said the horse he now rides, called Poppy, is "very patient, very calming and such a lovely horse".

Mum Nicola said getting back on a horse following surgery had been "incredible" for him.

"It's actually helping him to learn to stand up again which is absolutely amazing," she said.

"I think as well, it's so lovely for him to be able to do something independent of me for a change.

"Due to his physical disabilities, he doesn't have that many opportunities to do such things away from me."

Eight-year-old Ava, who has cerebral palsy, said riding helps strengthen her legs

Eight-year-old Ava, from Marchington, has cerebral palsy but has been riding since she was four.

She said: "It helps my legs strengthen because I have to kick a horse a lot and it helps my wrists flex because I have to hold the reigns.

"It's good because I don't have to go to hospital for it. I can do something I want to do. It's better than going to hospital.

"I ride different horses, different days. My favourite one is April.

"The staff are friendly. They listen. They help you if you need help and they're just really friendly."

Helping adults too

The centre is now trying to raise £60,000 as it celebrates its six decades in operation by asking people to complete challenges themed around the number 60.

The cash will help to maintain and care for specially trained horses, upgrade facilities and expand its outreach.

Trustee and manager Glynis Dalley, said: "It's vitally important. There's no statutory funding for anything like this.

"We are responsible for raising all the funds to run our centre, and it costs over £320,000 a year to run the centre.

"Typically our centre will help between about 300 to 350 people with additional needs every year. That'll be children from the age of five upwards, through to adults.

"Recently, we had an 81-year-old riding with us. I think in the last year we've run over 6,000 sessions for people with additional needs.

"We're trying to ensure that we're here for another 60 years."