Flood Appeal March 2026

Forced to close by flooding

During February, devastating flooding of all local roads forced our Riding for the Disabled Centre to close on four separate days. With no safe vehicle access to our site, it was simply too dangerous for our riders and volunteers to travel to us.

For everyone’s safety, we had no choice but to cancel sessions on 6th, 7th, 13th and 28th February — a decision that cost us over £3,000 in lost income.

This year marks our 60th anniversary. For six decades we have supported children and adults through riding therapy, building confidence, independence and wellbeing. Demand for our services has never been stronger — yet in all those 60 years, we have never been so affected by flooding as we have recently.

The relentless heavy rain hasn’t just dampened spirits — it has hit our small charity hard. Alongside the loss of lesson income, our waterlogged and flooded paddocks have meant our horses and ponies cannot graze as they normally would. Instead, they’ve had to stay in their stables, increasing our costs for bedding and hay at a time when our income has already taken a significant blow.

As a small, local charity, we simply cannot absorb losses like this. Every cancelled session affects not only our finances, but the vital support we provide to our riders — children and adults who rely on us for confidence, therapy, wellbeing and joy.

In our 60th year, we want to be celebrating our impact — not fighting to recover from flood losses.

We are asking for your help to weather this storm:

🐴 A donation of £10 will buy a bale of bedding to keep our ponies warm, dry and comfortable in their stables.

🐴 A donation of £25 will buy one horses share of one of our large bales of hay for when our horses can’t graze outside.

🐴 A donation of £40 will cover the cost of two cancelled rider’s lessons, helping us to continue to deliver life-changing sessions.

Your support, no matter the size, will make a real and immediate difference. It will help care for our ponies, and ensure our centre can continue to support our riders.

Thank you.