About

We cater for all sorts of disability using ponies for riding therapy.

The group was started in 1970 at a farm on the outskirts of York. In the early days, owners brought their ponies to the farm for the riders to use for the lesson. This was all voluntary as the group had no ponies of their own. In 1976 the group moved to Shipton-by-Beningbrough. It was around this time that the group acquired two ponies.

Currently we have nine ponies and have riders from 4 years plus. There are 4 rides per week during the summer and some of our riders have been coming for many years.

As well as our regular adult riders we also have riders from a local school for children with special educational needs and also from assisted living homes. Our riders have a variety of disabilities and needs.

We are part of the Riding for the Disabled Association, which means we have certain standards to adhere to and Privacy and Safeguarding policies that link us in with that wider organisation.

Unlike most other RDA groups, all our ponies are owned by the group, or on long term loan. The ponies are used solely by our disabled riders, which means that the group have full financial responsibility for their upkeep and welfare. This is a huge financial burden and without fundraising, sponsorship and donations the group would fold.

We are very grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund who have helped with our funding, enabling our group to continue for the near future at least.

If you are able to offer any regular or one-off financial support you can do so via our donation link: https://gofund.me/0ea17579

You can also contact us for bank details if you would prefer to donate directly: How to get involved