A HORSE riding association for children with disabilities has received funding from the Dorset Quarrymen.

Every year, the Dorset Quarrymen go for a ride on their motorbikes, all dressed in Santa suits, and finish by donating money to a local charity. 

The Dorset Quarrymen is a group made up of Freemasons, stating on its website: "We are a charitable organisation that loves to ride."

This year, it decided to donate funds to Green Cottage Riding for The Disabled. 

The Wimborne-based Quarrymen rode around Dorset on Sunday, December 1, ending up at Green Cottage.

It provided the group with a cheque for £350, for which they were extremely thankful.

Green Cottage Riding for the Disabled (RDA), provides children with disabilities the opportunity to ride horses, which can improve their physicality and communication. 

This donation by the Dorset Quarrymen is extremely appreciated by the group because it relies solely on donations, and its annual costs are around £9,000. 

Gill Clark, a trustee of the Green Cottage RDA, said: "We're really privileged that they’ve chosen to do their Santa ride to raise money for us.

"Everything helps, whether it's 100 or 1000, absolutely everything helps."

Every Thursday morning, the group welcomes up to 24 children with mental and physical disabilities from the ages of five to 17. 

The age range is limited to children due to the stables only holding ponies.

The group of 30 volunteers run around six lessons on Thursday mornings. 

Gill said: “To see the children and what they get out of it every Thursday morning, It’s just heart-warming, it’s wonderful.

"It's lovely to see that you’re making a difference to a young life."

Gill said the group has been running for almost 50 years, and that it's "long established". 

When Gill joined, she recounted that "this group welcomed me so much - they're such a friendly group".

Apart from their annual costs, Green Cottage is also fundraising to buy at least one new pony for the children. 

It recently retired a few ponies, with one of them being 29 years old. 

Other ways they create an income is by coffee mornings, it is supported by Verwood Rustic Fair and donations from the public. 

As of the new year, Green Cottage RDA is going to reach out to local businesses, asking them to sponsor a pony. 

Gill said horse riding therapy can be extremely beneficial and rewarding for children.

She said: "It's so lovely to see them progress.

"It's lovely to see their confidence."