A £1,000 donation will give a pony a brand new saddle at the world’s first riding centre for people with learning or physical disabilities.

The donation was made on Tuesday (June 2) by the Rotary Club of Epping to the Chigwell Riding Trust, established 50 years ago to provide physical and emotional therapy with horses and ponies.

Trust manager Deborah Hall received the cheque in Prezzo, Epping High Road, after giving a presentation at the club’s bridge fundraiser in February this year.

Plans have already been made to use the money, which will buy a saddle for Nesta the pony.

Ms Hall said: “I am delighted, absolutely delighted.

“Epping have been so supportive of us in the past and it is lovely, I think to buy something so tangible and usable that we can go ahead and get.

“I cannot thank them enough.”