Midlothian riding school for disabled people hopes to ride coronavirus storm

A Midlothian riding school for disabled people is appealing for help as it battles to stay afloat during the coronavirus outbreak lockdown.

Thornton Rose, Riding for the Disabled is based at Thornton Livery Yard, just outside Rosewell, Midlothian.

Thornton Rose Riding for the Disabled is based at Thornton Livery Yard, just outside Rosewell. The charity has 50 volunteers, aged from 12 to 70+, and runs two sessions a week for 25 disabled adults and young people. Many of the younger volunteers at the charity are pursuing achievement awards such as Saltire, Duke of Edinburgh etc.

Thornton Rose is funded from donations from members and other fundraising. The fundraising programme for summer 2020, which involved face-to-face events, has been put on hold. Like all Riding for the Disabled groups in the UK, Thornton Rose RDA is an independent charity operating within the auspice of the national Riding for the Disabled UK charity.

Thornton Rose group chairwoman Kay McBride said: “Our service is really important to the many youngsters and adults with disability who visit us each week. It would be a great tragedy not to survive this crisis.

“We need the community of Midlothian to support us through this period so that we can once more provide our valuable service to those in need.”

Whilst the costs related to the sessions with its disabled riders are removed, the cost of keeping the charity’s four horses remains. It owns four horses , Katie, Oshie, Panda and Pie and borrow another, Paddy, from one of the livery owners.

Group treasuer Carol Perry said: “It takes around £1000 per month to keep afloat during the Covid-19 down time.

“Behind the scenes we are doing what we can to further reduce our costs and reach out to grant funders.”

The horses require livery fees, veterinary and other care, medication, feedstuff to keep them going until the groups starts back up.

A team of volunteers are looking after the horses on a daily basis, maintaining social distancing and regularly disinfecting all equipment.

Trustee Tommy Lawson said: “Our horses make such a difference in the lives of our participants and volunteers.

“Please, if you feel you are able, make a small contribution to our funds. Once this is all over, you could come and visit us and see the work that we do each week.”

Donate at www.justgiving.com/campaign/thorntonroseRDA.