A NEW arena for disabled riders will be built at stables in Westhoughton after bosses were awarded a £25,000 grant.

Landlord’s Farm in Westhoughton received the Sport England funding to build the outdoor arena and a disabled toilet, with a ramp providing access.

Friends of Landlord’s Farm, working with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), are also raising the money for the Dicconson Lane stables.

They now have 14 members who are disabled, of various ages, and the new facilities, added to a mounting block installed last year, should see more people attracted to the stables.

Alex Sherriff, from Friends of Landlord’s Farm, said: “This investment is fantastic, and we are all really excited at what’s coming up.

“It will give access to more people to enter classes.

“Everything should be accessible to disabled people and riding is no exception.”

The stables’ disabled riders will be able to compete in classes at two forthcoming shows, including one tomorrow at 1pm, and a dressage competition on October 5.

Miss Sherriff said the new facilities would make competition riding more accessible for disabled members.

Friends of Landlord’s Farm is also through to the final of a competition for a Community Fund Award from Lloyds Bank.

Members of the public can now vote for the charity as they compete with three other groups in the Wigan area for up to £3,000 of investment, which they will spend on new riding equipment.

One of the disabled members is Mike Dunnington’s son Christian, aged 16, who was left brain damaged after being run over as an 11-year-old.

Mr Dunnington said: “It is fantastic what Christian has been able to do there. We have got a million and one pictures of him on a horse.

“I’m so proud of him. The staff at Landlord’s have been brilliant with him and he has been going up there every Saturday for the last two to three years now.”

To support Friends of Landlord’s Farm in the Lloyds competition, text Vote WDN to 61119 or tweet #COMMFUNDWDN.