It is widely recognised that horse riding helps people with physical or mental disabilities because of the pleasure, satisfaction and sense of achievement they enjoy. My eighteen year old daughter is one of many volunteers who work at the Diamond Riding Centre and as a consequence I also spend time there, both she and I agree that the looks of wonder and sheer pleasure displayed in huge smiles that I see on the faces of the riders is proof enough of the benefits riding brings. Every week it serves over 350 disabled riders from 5 to over 70.

The team currently uses a second-hand Land Rover. It is essential for delivering supplies of feed, looking after the horses, property and for transporting staff, volunteers and tack to and from the fields at the beginning and end of the day. The vehicle is old and constantly breaks down or stalls; they desperately need a replacement vehicle.

To run the Centre costs over £300,000 a year, excluding the cost of horses, but Riding for the Disabled does not receive any funding from Government or Local Authority. In order to cover their year on year costs they rely on subsidised riding fees ( so that no disabled rider is barred by cost) donations, legacies and fund raising events.

They certainly can not afford to spend about £25,000 on a replacement Land Rover Defender (or similar vehicle) new or second hand. It does not need to be a high-spec model it just needs to be reliable and be able to seat 6-8 people.

PLEASE would you be kind enough to donate whatever you can afford?

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