Emley Moor Riding for the Disabled’s (Emley Moor RDA) herd of ponies has been expanded thanks to a significant contribution from the West Riding Masonic Charities’ Community Fund.
The grant of £2,000 was a massive contribution towards the purchase of Milly, who joined their herd of ponies which provide so much enjoyment for disabled riders.
Milly is a Cob type horse measuring 15.2 hands in height that has been especially selected to cope with a larger-framed person. Her arrival at Emley Moor RDA has helped reduce the waiting list for ten young people whom the charity can assist.
Emley Moor Riding for the Disabled is operated entirely by volunteers and has 26 members aged between five to 65 years old with various disabilities to whom they provide four evening sessions a week.
Milly’s arrival at Factory Farm will also enable Emley Moor RDA to consider taking on more members. The grant was sponsored by the Lodge of Harmony in Huddersfield, and Milly is already working hard at the Emley Moor Riding for the Disabled’s headquarters at Factory Farm on Emley Moor.
Milly is the second pony that Freemasonry has helped Emley Moor RDA fund. In 2018, The Lodge of Harmony sourced a grant of £2,500 to help purchase Flynn, a piebald cob gelding, and the two ponies are now happily working together at Factory Farm.
Patricia Phillips, Secretary to Emley Moor Riding for the Disabled, said:
“Our activities can have a truly beneficial impact because of the unique combination of participant rider, horse and volunteer – with horses at the heart of everything we do.
“Our group is very grateful to the Freemasons for their grant towards purchasing Milly. She has settled well with our little herd. She absolutely loves people and is proving a tremendous asset to our group.”
The Lodge of Harmony’s Master Matthew Topliss added:
“We’ve always been impressed by the work of Emley Moor Riding for the Disabled, and our members were delighted to put in a bid for grant funding to enable them to buy a new horse.”
