Care Home’s Gift To Riding School For The Disabled

Money raised by the residents of a New Milton care home will help a riding school for the disabled purchase much needed equipment.

Colten Care’s Kingfishers nominated Bramshaw Riding for the Disabled as its charity of the year for 2017, and raised over £960 through events including a summer fete, a Christmas market and Swinging 60s party.

Bramshaw Riding for the Disabled, based at Ford Farm Stables in Brockenhurst, is part of a national charity which offers the experience of horse riding to children and adults with a range of physical and learning disabilities.

Midge Hargreaves, group organiser at Bramshaw said: “We were very excited when we heard that Kingfishers had chosen to support us and dare I say we hoped they might even raise a couple of hundred pounds. So when we heard just how much they had raised we were absolutely amazed.

“It’s so wonderful and we are so grateful,” she continued.

“We are entirely volunteer-run and rely on fundraising for all our new equipment.

“At the moment we really need some new riding hats for the children which cost £50 each, so this donation will make a huge difference to us.”

A group of eight residents from Kingfishers visited the riding school with members of the home’s companionship team and watched children from Forest Park School in Totton enjoy a lesson.

The children, aged between four and six, have a range of special educational needs and are regular visitors to Bramshaw.

Kingfishers resident Victoria Burry said: “It’s lovely to see the children being able to ride the ponies. They are clearly enjoying themselves. I’m so glad we picked this wonderful cause as our charity of the year.”