September 2010 Recipients
Around 140 children and young adults with disabilities will soon be enjoying the therapeutic benefits of horse riding thanks to a $6,000 grant made to Hamilton Group Riding for the Disabled.
The funds will be used to resurface the riding arena on Pukete Road which has compacted due to heavy use and has caused lameness problems in some of the horses. This issue has also caused flooding in wet weather while making it extremely dusty in drier periods which affects both the horses and riders with breathing related conditions.
“We have around 30 riders participating in our programme each day and it’s vital that we provide them with a safe riding environment. This grant will go a long way to protecting both the riders and our horses as well,” says Patricia Strang, Treasurer for the Hamilton Group Riding for the Disabled.
The Hamilton organisation is one of 54 members of the New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association. The group provides horse riding for the disabled community for therapeutic, educational and recreational purposes.
