RAC Saddle Club has been chosen by Care South as the latest beneficiary of its Chairman’s 2020 Fund. The fund was set up to give back to community groups, services and organisations which directly benefit Care South’s residents and staff, and their Care South at Home clients.

RAC Saddle Club, a registered charity, offers horse riding training to the military and community, along with equine therapy for mental and physical rehabilitation. The Dorset House care home team in Hamworthy nominated RAC Saddle Club for a Chairman’s 2020 Fund donation for helping residents visit the stables, interact with and safely ride horses again after many years.

Dorset House care home residents visited the RAC Saddle Club to hand over the £1,000 donation with the help of Martin Ross, Director of Care at Home at Care South, to Steph Buchanan BEM, Owner and Yard Manager at RAC Saddle Club. Afterwards, some of the residents were given the chance to ride Sally, one of the horses.

Max, who lives at Dorset House care home, said: “I was pleased that I had the chance to ride a horse. It was just as I remembered.”

Yvonne, who also lives at Dorset House, has previously ridden on Sally the horse so was pleased to have the chance to do so again. She said: “It was simply wonderful. A very special experience for me.”

Martin Ross, Director of Care at Home, said: “It was lovely to see the residents’ faces light up as soon as they saw the horses. We are so pleased to be able to give back to such a fantastic, worthy cause which provides so many benefits to the wellbeing of the Dorset House residents.”

Steph said: “Thank you so much to Care South for their generous donation which will enable us to continue helping more people to enjoy the benefits of equine therapy. It is always a joy to welcome the residents from Care South to meet the horses and have a chance to ride one which many haven’t done since they were children. Horses have a wonderful way of connecting with people, and we believe that it’s something that people of all ages should get to benefit from.”

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