A CHARITY that offers horse-riding therapy for profoundly disabled people has been targeted by burglars for this second time in as many months.

Police are investigating a theft of 10 saddles from Stocks Farm Equestrian Centre in West Parley which is used by many local children and adults, as well as a local group of the Riding for Disabled Association.

The Miss Bush Memorial Group holds a session for disabled adults at the farm every Friday and they have use of the horses and equipment there.

Thieves appeared to have gained access to the tack room which was padlocked and stole two saddles on Saturday night and a further eight over night on Sunday. The total loss was £5,000.

Police say there was no sign of forced entry and Stocks Farm manager Lisa Cuesta, believes a key must have been used. She added: “It has left a massive financial query because we don’t know if the insurance will be because there was no forced entry. This has been incredibly disruptive, we have 24 horses and sadly 10 of them can’t work.”

In February burglars stole £1,200-worth of specialist saddles from the RDA’s Southfield Riding Group in Longham who host sessions there four days a week.

Offenders ripped padlocks off the stable doors and took three sheepskin therapy saddles.

Speaking about the latest incident, Sue Downer, county instructor for the RDA, said: “You cannot imagine that somebody would do this.

“This people are hugely disadvantaged in all sorts of ways – physically, emotionally and in learning and we just use the horses to help with their life and their conditions and someone is taking that away.

“These people don’t have any morals.”

• In a bid to recoup their losses, workers at Stocks Farm are holding a series of fundraising events – a BBQ and quiz night on Saturday for members of the centre, a collection at Castlepoint Shopping Centre on Monday April 2 with a Shetland pony as special guest and a jumping competition and tack sale at Stocks Farm on Friday April 13.

For more information call 01202 570288.