Riders geed up by £380,000

Among the shivering trio was Jackie Butterfield who, with a business plan and a single pony, had decided to set up the Vale Mill Stables, Haworth, to help disabled people of all ages experience the thrill of riding on horseback.

Seven years later, the riding school’s membership has swelled to 130 riders and more than 25 volunteers who help them learn to ride anything from a Shetland to a shire.

Now, thanks to today’s Lottery award, Jackie and her team will be able to take the next step in expanding the business over the next five years.

It will mean being able to provide more riding lessons and stable management training to adults and children with physical, learning and mental health disabilities.

“The news we received about the award was brilliant,” said Jackie.

“First and foremost it gives the group security as it means we can concentrate on building for the future as opposed to fundraising just to tread water.

“We can now set about putting our plans for expansion into action, employ new staff and, best of all, take on more riders.”

Disabled riders use the activities provided at the stables for therapy and recreation, while developing their well-being, physical advancement, communication skills and social interaction.

Jackie said: “It improves their self-esteem and develops their motor neurone functions. The disabled riders also connect with the people running the lessons so they get that interaction and, importantly, they also get to enjoy the environment.”

Sue Munro, 65, takes her two sons, Ian, 43 and James, 31, to the riding group every Saturday morning.

Ian was a founding member and James joined after a previous riding group in Bradford folded. They have learning and physical disabilities caused by a progressive genetic disease, which causes deterioration in their muscles.

Mrs Munro, of Lees Lane, Haworth, said she had taken her sons all over the world for treatment but doctors had still not been able to specifically diagnose their disabilities.

However, she said the stables has been a “massive help” to her sons and praised the “wonderful” riding group for boosting their confidence.

The married mother-of-four said: “Ian walks with a walking frame, so riding is very, very good for him. It is so wonderful seeing them up there on a horse.

“When they are there, they are the same as everyone else. There are children and adults there with all kinds of disabilities and they have got young and older volunteers who do a great job.

“Ian and James both think it is fantastic. It is confidence-building and a wonderful social occasion every Saturday.”

Helena Lee’s daughter Jenny is another member of the riding group.

Mrs Lee, of Cross Hills, near Skipton, said horse riding has given the 11-year-old, who is deaf and has learning disabilities, more “independence” since she joined about three years ago. The riding lessons have also helped with her balance, said her mum.

“She absolutely loves it,” said Mrs Lee. “She likes the fact that it gives her some independence and it has helped her walk. She can walk but, because she has a learning disability, and is deaf, it affects her balance. Riding helps to stimulate the parts of her brain which help with balance.”

Volunteers and riders also have the opportunity to gain NVQ qualifications at levels one and two in horse care.

In addition, the centre provides workplace experience for people with mild disabilities, Scout groups and young people referred by West Yorkshire Police’s Youth Offending Team.

One of those hoping to benefit from working at the stables is animal-lover Zoe Packer, a dedicated 11-year-old.

She is the youngest of the helpers but is at the stables every day after school during term-time, every Saturday and all day during the school holidays, putting in hours of work mucking out stables, caring for the horses and helping teach disabled children.

Zoe, of Haworth, said: “I do it because I really enjoy it and really enjoy caring for the disabled people. I also care for the horses, mucking them out and doing other jobs.

“It is hard work sometimes, but it is good fun and everybody is friends here.”

She has also become involved in fundraising activities the group hold throughout the year to raise much- needed cash.

These have included supermarket bag-packing and line dance socials and numerous charity runs. Mrs Lee added to the group’s fundraising effort by completing two Great North Runs in the past two years, raising about £1,000.

In the past, the group has also secured major funding from Bradford and Calderdale Councils and bodies such as Awards For All. In 2004, Jackie persuaded the charitable foundation run by Gannett, the US owners of the Telegraph & Argus, to give an award of £4,200 to the group.

However, the latest grant is the largest single one to date.

Jackie said: “This means that we can employ staff as well as volunteers. The paid staff will be doing the work with the horses in the stables, looking after them, exercising them and organising lessons, while keeping the volunteers as a vital link.”

She said the next step was to forge ahead with plans to build an indoor arena. It has taken 16 months to get Bradford Council to grant planning permission and two bids have now been submitted to the national Riding for the Disabled and Wooden Spoon charities.

Jackie said: “We have got our fingers crossed but, if they can’t come up with the money, we still have a lot of other ideas. We will just have to wait and see what happens.”

Caroline James, Big Lottery Fund head of region for Yorkshire and the Humber, said the organisation was “delighted” to be able to have given the £380,000 grant to such a worthwhile cause.

She said: “This is a great project to get disabled people of all abilities out and about in the stunning countryside surrounding Haworth, while learning new skills and socialising.

“With this funding even more riders from across the Bradford district and beyond will be able to take advantage of this tremendous asset for disabled people.”