Forres, Nairn and District Riding for the Disabled
Young People
We want to mount a local awareness campaign to increase our profile, so we can offer more sessions to more children.
About this cause
We are a small volunteer group who every Monday morning meet at Burgie Eventing Centre Nr Forres and provide 4 x 45 min sessions of riding for 32 children from local schools. We provide the riding (incl transport) completely free of charge. The children that come to us have a range of conditions and disabilities including genetic disorders, physical disabilities, mental, emotional and behavioural issues and developmental delay. Riding (Hippotherapy) provides not only physical therapy (it has been shown that 1 riding session is as beneficial as 4 physiotherapy sessions) in improving balance, core strength and hand eye coordination. But also interacting with the horses and others, provides life enhancing opportunities for children with limiting conditions. Not only therapy but fun.
How this cause brings people in the community together
We would like to provide another session each week for the children on our waiting list. To do this we need to increase our funding (as our sessions are provided at no cost to the children) and have a larger number of volunteers. To address both these issues we need to greatly improve our local profile. We intend to do this by being out and about and visible in our community. As well as a newsletter to hand out. We want to have our own branded banners and signage. Also pop up in major supermarkets and shopping areas as well as equestrian and other local events. We are convinced that if more people knew about what we do and the enormous benefits for the children, some of our enthusiasm and passion will rub off and we can grow our group and increase the benefits for the local children.