EVERY penny counts for Abingdon Riding for the Disabled so a surprise windfall of £5,000 from the Gannett Foundation meant a lot last year.

The riding group teaches disabled children and adults from across the county and further to ride horses and ponies as an alternative type of physiotherapy.

The surprise grant - awarded by the Oxford Mail's parent company - has helped the group take great strides in caring for their animals with three new large shelters.

Chairman of Abingdon RDA Ann Barlow said: "The grant helped us enormously.

"The fields when we acquired them were completely exposed, not even a tree in them, nothing at all for the horses to shelter in.

"So getting the money to be able to buy the new shelters make such a difference for the ponies to get away from the wind, rain and the flies which is probably the biggest thing that bothers them.

"It has been so worthwhile for the ponies. It is essential that we can look after them properly.

"Ever since we acquired the fields we wondered how we would be able to afford the new shelters as these things are expensive."

At the end of last year, more than 160 staff and volunteers were overjoyed to hear of the news they had been chosen as one of the Gannett Foundation's grant recipients.

Each year the Oxford Mail looks for charities, community groups and projects to apply for up to £10,000 each to support good causes across the county.

The Abingdon Riding for the Disabled was among three entrants chosen last year including ARCh assisted reading for children and Katharine House Hospice.

Ms Barlow added: "Every single penny counts, so grants such as what we were given from the Gannett Foundation are so important.

"The Abingdon RDA costs £90,000 a year to run and that is without any extras such as the field shelters.

"So it means a lot."

The group currently works with 95 riders each week teach them to ride horses and in turn offering a fun alternative to traditional physiotherapy.

Each year a special theme is chosen and this year is the needs of rural communities, although all applications that meet the general criteria will be given equal consideration.

This year the process has also been opened up to scouting and brownie groups to get in touch and apply.

The closing date for applications is Friday, October 14, and forms can be found at oxfordmail.co.uk/gannettfoundation

If you would like to help volunteer at the Abingdon Riding for the Disabled contact rda-abingdon.org.uk