While some have been inspired to help their London equestrian facilities, on thanking an equestrian donor to one of its major projects, the Ebony Horse Club, as featured in the ‘Horses Help Children’ article (Horse & Hound, 21 January), the BEF discovered that the donation was, in fact, reduced.
David Gadsby, London representative for the BEF, explains, “The donor felt that, with the BEF pledging £200,000 towards the Club’s proposed £1.7million facility in the centre of Brixton, the support of a few hundred pounds was no longer needed but this could not be further from the truth.”
Costing upwards of £100,000 a year to run, the Ebony Horse Club uses horsemastership to improve the life skills, education and attainment of some of the most disadvantaged children growing up in Brixton, South East London.
Director, Ros Spearing says, “While we are working hard to try to attract large scale sums for the building of our own stable, we do still need support in terms of product and finance to run”, continuing, “It is exhausting constantly having a hand to mouth existence and we currently only have enough money to keep the children riding till July.”
The Club’s success has led to many of the children at risk of dropping out of education reaching University, taking up careers in horses including joining the British Racing School or even gaining work at the Club as youth workers or administrators.
And David adds, “It is the intention of the HOOF to improve access to and the quality of equestrianism throughout London and while we are proud to have contributed a fraction towards the Club’s proposed stables, we wish to encourage other equestrian groups and individuals to follow our lead as per their own financial constraints.”
In terms of financing the Ebony Horse Club, the following is given as a guide;
£20 – a beginners riding lesson for a child
£40 – a riding lesson for a teenager in the top group
£50 – a return minibus journey to take the children to ride
£60 – two private lessons for a child at risk and who needs extra support
£75 – cost for a youth worker for 4 hours
£120 – one group lesson for 7 children
£300- cost to take a group to ride – hire of minibus, youth worker and riding lesson
£500 – a day at the stables including riding and practical lessons for 15 children
£1000 – cost to send a group of EHC children to ride in the Brecon Beacons for a day
Donate online at www.ebonyhorseclub.org.uk – or send cheque to Ebony Horse Club, The Loughborough Community Centre, 105 Angell Rd, London, SW9 7PD.
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