A registered charity, the Thanet Disabled Riding Centre provides a wonderful facility for people with physical and learning difficulties, stating “we tend to see the ability, not the disability”. Not only do the adult and child clients have the pleasure of riding, but some with multiple learning difficulties participate in various games whilst on the horse, enabling them to experience multi-sensory activities.

The riding assists the clients to develop social skills, confidence, communication skills, numeracy, independence, dexterity, balance and riding ability. It is clearly educational, pherapeutic, recreational, and most of all great fun for all involved. Based at Maurice House in Broadstairs, the centre was founded more than thirty years ago by Mrs Nora Setterfield, who continues to run it to this day, and who was recognised in 2005 for her voluntary work by a successful nomination for a Local Hero award.

The charity is entirely reliant upon gifts and donations to keep it going, and was recently supported with a magnificent contribution of £2,000 from the Margate based Union Lodge No. 127. The money was raised at Worshipful Master Graham Garnsey’s Ladies Festival, and was presented to the Riding Centre by WBro Vic Voss PPrAGDC, Charity Steward of the Lodge. WBro Voss is pictured at the stables with Mrs Setterfield and some of her team of volunteers, along with a few of the lucky youngsters who benefit from the riding experience.

For more details of this great local charity visit www.tdrc.org.uk

WBro Vic Voss PPrAGDC,
Union Lodge No. 127

From Ed46, P19