A RIDING For The Disabled group in Cornwall has launched a crowd funding appeal so that it can keep its therapy ponies.

The RDA Duchy College Group, which is based at Duchy College near Callington, has four ponies which provide riding and therapy for children and adults.

The RDA’s vision is to enrich the lives of all disabled people through horses.

Due to the pandemic the group, whose motto is Changing Lives One Ride at a Time, has been closed for a year, and is unlikely to re-open before September.

COVID restrictions have also prevented the group from doing its usual fundraising events.

The group now needs to raise funds to help cover the costs of keeping the ponies until then with insurance, feed, hay, bedding, shoes and routine veterinary care all needing to be covered.

The group’s Juliette Snelgrove said: “Our ponies are very special and each one is trained for the amazing work they do as an RDA pony.

“This training takes time and money and is a large investment for the group.

“We’re desperate to keep these ponies until we can reopen again so that more people can benefit from riding, and we’re hoping that by launching a crowd funder, people will support our work.”

At the time of going to press, just over £2,000 of the £10,000 target had been raised.

The RDA operates through a small team of volunteers who are all committed to helping others benefit through time spent with horses.

In normal times, children and adults with physical and learning disabilities and autism take part in riding activities.

Medical professionals recognise that there are significant therapeutic benefits for the rider.

The warmth and three-dimensional movement of the horse is transmitted through the rider’s body, gradually making it more relaxed and supple, reducing spasms and improving balance, posture and coordination.

Juliette said: “Children and adults of all ages come to ride with us each week and we know they are missing their riding sessions a lot and gain so much from them.

“Our riders have a variety of disabilities, some are physical and others are learning disabilities and also autism and Aspergers.

“However, they all have one thing in common and that is that riding makes a difference.

“We very much hope that we will be able to keep the ponies for just a few more months, until we can welcome our riders back again.”

To support the crowdfunder visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-ponies-of-rda-duchy or visit the website www.rdaduchy.org.