Cardiff Riding School has received a boost in funding to provide a new and improved outdoor school for riders.
The project will be funded by Cardiff Council and Friends of Cardiff Riding School – who have donated £27,000 to the works, which will begin on Monday, October 11.
The outdoor school at Cardiff Riding School, based at Pontcanna Fields, has been fully closed since 2018. Facilities were significantly reduced from 2013 when the school started falling into disrepair.
However, outdoor riding options are set to resume before the end of November when improvement works at the school are completed.
Set in 35 acres of park land, Cardiff Riding School will be enhanced by the new outdoor facilities which will provide a multipurpose riding experience for all abilities in a setting suitable for all weather conditions. Activities including lessons, pony club, riding for the disabled and children pony rides as well asdressage competitions and show jumping training courses will be available.
Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “Cardiff Riding School is a fantastic community asset that allows Cardiff residents and visitors to access horse riding within the heart of the city.
“The location allows people to easily access a facility that would otherwise be out of reach to them.
“The new facilities will bring this redundant space into use to increase capacity for lessons and improve the quality of the school to a much higher specification.
“The building works will recycle reusable materials from the existing outdoor school and include drainage and biodiversity improvements to the surrounding grounds. The new school will not only look great and provide year-round outdoor riding opportunities for customers, but the associated works will help improve the quality of the surrounding environment.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to the Friends Group who have supported the Riding School since its inception in 2013. The Friends and volunteers make a significant contribution to the school – raising additional funds and working hard to maintain and improve facilities at Cardiff Riding School for riders, visitors and horses.”
A spokesperson for the Friends of Cardiff Riding School, said: “As the Friends of Cardiff Riding School group, we have organised a variety of fundraising activities with an ultimate goal of contributing to the refurbishment of our outdoor riding arena. We are delighted and excited that this project has attracted the support of the Council, and that work is commencing on Monday. The group was formed in 2013, and our aim is to raise awareness of the existence and benefits of the riding school, to support the staff and improve facilities at the school. This involves assisting in care of the horses and ponies and helping to maintaining the school environment.”
CRS is the only accessibility centre in Wales and the riding school team have ambition to further grow their disabled cliental making CRS a centre of excellence in the centre of Cardiff.
Cardiff Riding School is supported by Cardiff Riding School Friends Group and delivers experiences for people with a range of educational, physical and social needs. It also caters for commercial customers and accommodates private liveries, advanced lessons and competitions.
