Riding school for disabled students raises £15k

Victoria Cheshire has been riding at the centre for decades and says it helps improve her mental health

A riding school for disabled students has raised £15,000 needed to replace its outdoor arena.

Work is underway at the Pembroke Centre, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, where the Wilton Riding for the Disabled Association operates.

The group needed the funds to complete work on the arena surface, which rider Victoria Cheshire said has been "falling to pieces".

Trustee Jackie Worrall said the old arena had become stony and unsafe, which is bad for the ponies' feet and also for riders.

Wilton RDA has been providing therapeutic riding for children and adults for more than 40 years, offering riders the chance to develop their balance and co-ordination, gain muscle strength and build up their all-important core muscles.

Volunteers have been preparing for the new surface to be delivered

Ms Cheshire has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning difficulties and has been riding with Wilton RDA for many years, but started out on horseback when she was just a toddler.

Her parents were told by a medial professional it would help strengthen her muscles.

Now 39-years-old, she said the benefits go far beyond that.

"It helps me when I go riding to forget about my health. It helps my mental health. It's almost therapy and it's good fun," she said.

"I love it. I wouldn't stop unless somebody medically told me I had to stop."

Volunteers have been fundraising at events, including at Salisbury Racecourse

Sport England conditionally promised £7,500 in match funding, leaving charity bosses to raise the same amount to ensure that the group received the additional money - which it has now done.

A crowdfunding page set up for the group now has a "stretch" target of £20,000, with all the proceeds going toward the new outdoor school.

While there is an indoor arena, both Ms Cheshire and Ms Worrall said riding in the fresh air is important.

"We want them to have the best we can offer them in terms of the facilities" said Ms Worrall.

"It's also about having a relationship with the horses and ponies, which is therapeutic in itself.

"You can see from the smile on people's faced how much they're enjoying it. They get the opportunity to talk and to share experiences."

The group is dependent on donations and local support and it is the first time the group have crowdfunded.

"We're hugely grateful to all the people who have already given us a donation," Ms Worrall said.