A DONATION of £900 has been made to the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) group at Welburn Hall School.

The money was presented to group riders and volunteers on October 25 on behalf of the Ladies’ Section of the Kirkbymoorside Golf Club.

Carolyn Strickland was lady captain at the club from March 2017 to March 2018.

She said: “I chose RDA at Welburn Hall School as my niece was a pupil at Welburn Hall, and benefitted from the RDA and still continues to ride long after she has left and living an independent life.

“The volunteers not only help but some of them bring their ponies to the arena and stay with them to help with the pupils that are riding that afternoon.

“I have to say that I got an amazing reaction from everyone yesterday for the donation and they were so grateful.”

The presentation at RDA at Welburn Hall, which has a newly-refurbished arena, followed a visit by Princess Anne, during which the Princess Royal met visiting mayors, the school’s head teacher and RDA staff before watching the young riders undertake a “Snakes and Ladders Obstacle Challenge” display.

At the RDA, horses and ponies provide therapy, achievement and enjoyment to people with disabilities all over the UK.

The group’s network of 500 volunteer groups organise activities such as riding, carriage driving, vaulting, showjumping and hippotherapy for more than 25,000 people each year.

With its 18,000 coaches and volunteers, it has been going for almost 50 years.

The Welburn Hall riding group attends regional finals and national competitions for dressage as organised by the RDA. It has also become a show jumping group and an endurance group.