Blairgowrie Riding for the Disabled marked its 50 years of service to the local community with an activity-packed day of celebration recently.

Guest of honour Deputy Lieutenant Major Charles Dunphie joined volunteers, riders and their families at our Easter Rattray Yard recently to mark our Golden Jubilee.

It was a proud moment for our group, which offers lessons for disabled children and adults throughout Blairgowrie and surrounding areas, and the culmination of our year of celebratory events. 

Major Dunthie enjoyed a fun demonstration of horse riding by three riders, Isla, Skye and Daniel, before presenting them with rosettes to mark the jubilee. A highlight of the visit was a presentation to Erin, our group’s oldest pony, with a well-deserved long-service award. 

And there were celebrations too for three volunteers from other RDA groups, who were presented with awards on behalf of the charity’s president, The Princess Royal.

Guests then enjoyed refreshments, including a special 50th-anniversary cake, and an opportunity to meet the ponies and chat with volunteers about the charity’s work.

Rhona Christie, chair of Blairgowrie RDA, said: “It was a wonderful way to acknowledge this very special occasion in our group’s long history. 

“We are very proud to be one of the longest-running Riding for the Disabled groups and our success is very much down to the hard work of our volunteers and committee, the many enthusiastic riders we have welcomed and, of course, the incredible support we have received over many years from the local community.

“We have some exciting plans for Blairgowrie RDA, including introducing new sessions called Tea with a Pony, where elderly people and those suffering from dementia can come and meet our ponies and enjoy tea and cakes, so as we celebrate our first 50 years, we are very much looking forward to the next 50.”