FUNDING APPEAL FOR A VERY SPECIAL HORSE

The Riding for the Disabled’s Unicorn Centre based at Hemlington, near Middlesbrough will be 21 this year, and is embarking on a very special project to commemorate this amazing milestone.  They are raising funds to buy a black horse called Blackberry with a big difference: he will be a computer-aided Horse Riding Simulator.

Blackberry will be a fantastic new tool for the Centre’s participants, as he will enable them to develop and enhance their riding skills in a focussed, one-to-one environment as an alternative to using a real live horse.  He will be also used to assess potential new participants on the Centre’s waiting list and existing riders with particular physical or weight problems could continue their riding lessons on him.

This state-of-the art simulator will enable participants to assess their balance and position using computer programmes, with sensors on the horse and a TV screen to experience real-time riding in a variety of environments.

Blackberry will be located in a purpose-built therapy room, to be named The Paul Conway Therapy Room. Paul was a participant and great advocate of the Centre’s work who passed away last year after battling illness for fifteen years. Paul demonstrated by his determination how much progress can be made by riding after a stroke. He found that riding gave him his dignity and self-respect back in addition to the massive physical benefits of improved balance and co-ordination.  Paul said his confidence increased to the point where he could happily mix with other people and make friends; “My emotions have changed, I am positive as I have a new life to think about and my cognitive impairment has improved too”

And Blackberry will allow the Centre’s amazing eighteen ponies to provide riding lessons at the same time, so more people will have the opportunity to ride.

There'll be opportunities too for non-disabled riders to hire Blackberry to improve their riding and dressage skills and for the Centre to use him for fundraising activities

Centre Manager Claire Pitt said, “There’s only one huge drawback: about £60,000 is needed to buy Blackberry and construct the therapy room.  We’ve raised about half through grants and donations, and we’re hoping that the rest will be found soon so that we can order him and proceed with this important project.  Donations can be made by visiting our BTMyDonate page: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/dressagesimulator/480374.