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'Therapy ponies can change these children's lives'

Leanne Rinne,in Lingfieldand
Cash Murphy,South East
Leanne Rinne/BBC A service user and their mum on one of the ponies at the East Park Riding for the Disabled Group in Lingfield, Surrey. The black pony is being led by one of the volunteers at the East Park Riding for the Disabled Group in Lingfield, Surrey. The volunteer is wearing a red hoodie, while the mum is wearing a black puffer coat and glasses.Leanne Rinne/BBC
The East Park Riding for the Disabled Group has received a £1,500 grant from the Tandridge Together Community Fund

A Surrey charity which offers children with disabilities the opportunity to ride horses for therapy and enjoyment is fundraising to buy a new pony.

The East Park Riding for the Disabled Group aims to offer children physio and occupational therapy and life skills in a soothing environment.

The Lingfield organisation has received a £1,500 grant from Tandridge District Council towards the cost of replacing a pony which died, however this only covers a fraction of the cost.

Charity trustee Sally O'Neill said this resource could "change lives" and was much more than "just a physical therapy".

Leanne Rinne/BBC Evalyn has brown hair and is wearing a grey coat, Leo has brown hair and is wearing a yellow coat, and Eadie is wearing a red headband and a gold puffer coat. The trio are pictured at the East Park Riding for the Disabled Group in Lingfield, Surrey.Leanne Rinne/BBC
Evalyn, nine, Leo, eight and Eadie, eight all go to the East Park Riding for the Disabled Group

Elizabeth Penny, a teaching assistant at St Stephen's primary school in South Godstone, brings pupils with conditions including autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, mutism, dyspraxia, and anxiety to Little Brook Equestrian as part of their PE lessons.

She agrees on its transformative effect.

Penny said: "They're just so excited, it's the best day of their week. They keep asking, 'how many sleeps until riding day?' They just love it."

"It's also a very calming activity," she added.

Leanne Rinne/BBC The East Park Riding for the Disabled Group, on East Park Lane in Lingfield, Surrey. A number of ponies trotting on sand can be seen in the picture. Leanne Rinne/BBC
The charity hopes to raise the rest of the money to buy a new pony

Evalyn, nine, said riding pony Tice made her feel "calm" and that she was always "excited" to go riding.

Eadie, eight, said: "It's just really fun and it helps me...I like ponies because they're really cute."

Leo, eight, said he felt very fortunate. "Lots of kids don't get to do this, so some kids are very lucky," he said.

O'Neill, who also owns Little Brook Equestrian, hopes to raise about £8,500 to pay for the pony but stressed that keeping the charity afloat was an ongoing effort.

She said: "We have to raise £17,000 a year, that's running costs, just to keep our ponies fed, shod, working and healthy. Without funds, we can't exist."

Councillor Bryan Black, from Tandridge District Council, said the charity submitted a "very good application".

"I think horse riding is a great thing for kids, it calms them down and it has a great effect on them."

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