Forres, Nairn and District Riding for the Disabled Association back after Covid-19 and Scottish storms caused chaos to plans
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THE FORRES, Nairn and District Riding for the Disabled Association is fully back up and running after the enforced Covid enclosure and damage to facilities caused by storms.
Sessions resumed on March 14 and Sonia Howell, Chair, said: “After a very lengthy gap because of Covid restrictions, the group
restarted with three non-riding horsemanship sessions in June 2021, which continued in September.
"With a relaxation in Covid regulations, we were delighted to recommence riding sessions in late October, but were dealt a devastating blow a couple of months later when Storm Arwen seriously damaged the roof of the indoor arena at Burgie Eventing Centre where the group is based.
"However, we are absolutely delighted to say that we recommenced our sessions for local children with disabilities on March 14 at our new temporary location of Muiryhall at Miltonduff, near Elgin.”
“We are indebted to Susanna Miller at Muiryhall for not only allowing us use of her facilities, but also for the many additions she has undertaken to accommodate our special requirements. These include special access gates to the woodland area, to accommodate ponies with side walkers; the clearance of fallen trees; storage space; giving up a large space in the arena for our special mounting block which is critical for the children’s safety; use of her stables; and the list goes on.”
Su Miller says: “I am delighted to be able to offer our facilities for such a worthy cause. The work done by the Association is vital for the children’s wellbeing and so rewarding for all involved; I am really pleased that I am able to contribute in this way.”
Sonia added: “It is not only the children who have missed the riding sessions; the volunteers have too. The joy we get from seeing the delight on the children’s faces makes all the hard work so worthwhile. We have a new slogan: Start your Monday with a smile – and it is not just
the children’s smiles we are talking about!”
Forres Nairn & District Riding for the Disabled Association delivers weekly term-time therapeutic riding sessions for children with disabilities from local primary and secondary schools. Instruction from qualified instructors on carefully chosen and well-trained ponies is designed to meet children’s
individual needs and abilities, contributing to their physical and mental wellbeing.
Their progress is monitored and reflected in a certificate at the end of the school year. Volunteers act as leaders for
the ponies, side-walkers and fundraisers.
The Group is the only one in the UK which does not make any charge to the riders or the schools, despite each session costing just under £700 per week. The Group does not receive any external funding and covers its expenditure through active fundraising.
