The race is on to save Scotland's oldest Riding for the Disabled (RDA) school, a crucial centre for the area. Billy More Nisbett, whose grandmother Sheila More Nisbett founded the school in 1959, has just embarked on the New Zealand coast-to-coast race, which involves cycling, running and kayaking hundreds of miles to raise £27,000 to repair the arena surface at Drum RDA in Edinburgh (0131-664 5803; www.drumrda.org.uk).
* Subscribe to Country Life and save
‘Any help or donations would be magic, as we're one of the busiest RDA centres in the UK, with more than 250 riders a week, and the surface urgently needs replacing,' says Billy's mother, Patrea More Nisbett. ‘Riding is automatic physiotherapy and it's so much easier to do that when you're enjoying it.'
The popular riding centre was born after Anne Hendry, a local polio victim, was given a ride on Topper, the family pony. The RDA's network of 500 volunteer groups offers riding, carriage driving, vaulting and showjumping to up to 28,000 people each year. To adopt or sponsor one of Drum's 10 ponies, or to make a donation to Billy's Bonkers Bash, visit bit.ly/billyrda.
* Follow Country Life magazine on Twitter
-
'To exist in this world relies on the hands of others': Roger Powell and modern British bookbindingAn exhibition on the legendary bookbinder Roger Powell reveals not only his great skill, but serves to reconnect us with the joy, power and importance of real craftsmanship.
-
Spam: The tinned meaty treat that brought a taste of the ‘hot-dog life of Hollywood’ to war-weary BritainCourtesy of our ‘special relationship’ with the US, Spam was a culinary phenomenon, says Mary Greene. So much so that in 1944, London’s Simpson’s, renowned for its roast beef, was offering creamed Spam casserole instead.
