17 May 2012

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NEWS from Horse & Hound Online : Saddles stolen from Riding for the Disabled group

Thursday 2 February 2012

Flora Watkins, H&H news editor

Thieves have stolen tack worth more than £1000 from Riding for the Disabled (RDA) stables in Dorset.

The stables of the Southfield RDA group in Ferndown were targeted on Tuesday night (31 January).

Three saddles, worth £400 each were taken.

Police say the theft of the saddles —which had been specially-adapted — will have a “detrimental impact” on the charity’s programme.

Sue Downer, chairman of RDA group, said the theft “beggars belief”.

“It is gutting really,” she told H&H.

“I went to feed the horses on Wednesday morning (1 February) and found the door wide open.

“We have two bolts secured with padlocks — but they had ripped the bolts off the door.”

Two of the saddles had been adapted slightly for different disabilities. The third was a special ‘therapy saddle’, which is made entirely of sheepskin.

“A few rude words crossed my mind,” said Ms Downer.

“I am so angry and disappointed. We had a class of children today from a special needs school — all profoundly disabled — and we couldn’t use the therapy saddle.

“We managed to cope with a sheepskin but it wasn’t very secure and the children found it difficult.”

Ms Downer said that although the saddles were insured, she was concerned that the break-in would put their premium up.

“We are already struggling to keep on top of our insurance premiums — so that would make things very difficult,” she said.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 1:45