Fund Raising/Donations

About our horses

Events

23/10/2010

The Brae were delighted to receive a cheque for £7162 from the Peoples Postcode Lottery.

This fantastic amount was used to purchase a sound system for the indoor arena.

Picture shows Claire McInally of the Peoples Postcode Lottery presenting the cheque to riders and volunteers of The Brae.

"Thanks ever so much for inviting us yesterday, we all thoroughly enjoyed it! It was absolutely fantastic to hear all the giggling, it really made our day! It really confirmed that we made a good decision in awarding funding, it was clearly well deserved." Claire Oliver-Postcode lottery.

Money donated was for an outdoor and indoor sound system. We have already been able to see how beneficial this additional piece of equipment is- riders and volunteers are able to hear the instructor and the directions much clearer, making maximum benefit for communication.
Also, it now allows families, friends and supporting organisations, to hear what is being asked of their associated rider, and allow them to feel more involved in the lesson.
The system will also be used to include music in the lessons, proven to be another therapeutic tool for horses and riders, with of course the addition of adding more fun and variety to the lessons.
We hope at some point next year to submit a recorded musical ride to the regional musical championships.

Open Day at Derby House, Dundonald ,Ayrshire

On Saturday 7th August Derby House in Dundonald had an open day and Katie Horne was invited to attend to represent the RDA, along with two other disabled riding groups (Winton and Carrick). Proceeds from the raffle and bouncy castle along with the contents of collection tins were split between the three groups and the Brae received a donation of £327. Many thanks to Allison Taylor, assistant manageress for inviting us and making us so welcome.

Hilton in the Community Foundation

Mary Sneddon and Cindy Grant accepting £500 on behalf of The Brae.

Donation by the 'Make a Difference Award Scheme' run by the Hilton in the Community Foundation and supported by the Evening Telegraph.

Rotary Donation

Jessica Narsapur and Liam Ritchie receiving a donation from Dundee Rotary Club for The Brae Riding for the Disabled.

Country Sport for the Ladies

Over 150 women arrived at Auchterhouse Country Sports to try their hand at clay pigeon shooting on Saturday as part of the venue's annual ladies' Day. The event, which was held in aid of The Brae Riding School for the Disabled, also included a raffle and auctions with prizes ranging from a champafgne makeover and three course lunch at Harvey Nichols to a night at the Macdonald Highland Resort in Aviemore.

Bag Pack at Morrison's Supermarket on 24th April

Thanks to all the volunteers' hard work £1152.12p was raised. An excellent result. Thanks very much to all involved. Well done!

Women help Brae to get ahead

The Brae Riding School for the Disabled received a £7,000 cash boost thanks to the fund-raising efforts of businesswomen across Dundee and Angus. Women Ahead, a networking and support group for women in business, handed over the donation at its annual general meeting at the Brae Riding School in Linlathen Grove. The organisation, established in 2001, raised the money during a variety of charity events, after it selected the riding school as its charity for 2009/10.

Around 15 members of Women Ahead attended the meeting and spoke to riders, parents and volunteers.

Muriel Bruce, chairwoman of Women Ahead, said, "The medical profession has long recognised the therapeutic benefits of bringing together animals and humans and the Brae provides an environment where this is possible. The Brae provides the opportunity for friendship, independence, achievement, challenge, increasing self-confidence and, most of all, fun."

The Brae centre manager, Mary Sneddon, said the money will be used to help care for its newest pony, Rolley. The animal provides weekly lessons for children who have a wide range of disabilities, including muscular dystrophy and autism.

The donation will also help pay for the upkeep of Salsa, another horse at the centre, who provides riding for around 18 children and adults per week.

Mary said "Each horse costs us in the region of around £1,500 per year to keep so this money helps us greatly. The remainder of the funds raised will help us buy new equipment to help stimulate riders during the lessons.

Centre bags cash boost

The Brae Riding for the Disabled Centre has received a £1000 donation from Scottish Hydro's Into Action scheme. The initiative is designed to support staff members with community and charity activities outside work. Neil Thomson works in the energy giant's large metering department in Perth and applied for the cash to assist his daughter Callie, who works at the stables.

Bag Pack

The Bag Pack at ASDA, Kirkton on Saturday 6th March raised £737.13p. A huge thank you to everyone who came along to help, especially Murray Farquharson who raised £135 by playing his squeeze box!

The President of Rotary International for Britain and Ireland visited a Broughty Ferry horse riding school which provides therapeutic sessions for disabled people. David Fowler, who is touring the country during his year of office, was joined by members of Dundee Rotary Club at The Brae Dundee Riding Ability Centre in Linlathen Grove to see the work taking place. The Rotarians recently donated £800 to the centre to support one of its horses. The riding club has been chosen as its 'hands on' community project. This means two Rotarians attend the centre every Thursday morning to help staff deliver a service to 13 children, including Kingspark pupils.

Two Dundee charities hit the 'jackpot' yesterday thanks to the generosity of members of Monifieth Bowling Club. A sportsman's dinner held at the club back in November raised £1400 and members decided to divide the sum between The Brae Riding for the Disabled Centre and SHARP - Ninewells Hospital based Scottish Heart and Arterial Risk Prevention Group. The money was handed over at a special ceremony at the club. Pictured left to right are Maureen Nicoll, Doreen Howley of SHARP, club social convener Malcolm Howley, Mary Sneddon of The Brae, Peter Lowe, Ann Lowe and Dick Russell. (picture courtesy of the Courier).

Pupils from Forthill Primary in Broughty Ferry handed over a cheque for £227 to the Brae Riding for the Disabled project today. Primary one kids presented the funds, which came from the proceeds of the school's festive concert. The project was chosen after classes were asked to decide where the money should go. Mary Sneddon of Brae Riding is pictured receiving the cheque from, left to right, Hannah, Sam and Thomas.

Stage One Donation
A Theatre Company in Dundee was at the City Chambers last night to present local charities with donations of more than £3000. Stage One, based at the Under-12s Project in Mid Craigie, put on a Stars In Your Eyes production to raise funds for charities close to their hearts which included Dreamz4U, The Brae, the IVF Unit at Ninewells Hospital, Spectrum, 45 Commando Royal Marines, Barnhill St Margaret's Church and Rachel House. Lord Provost John Letford, who presented the cheques to representatives from each charity, said, 'They're doing a fantastic job. Their charity work is phenomenal and has major effects on the city. (Photo Courtesy of The Courier)

Bike Gift Aids Brae Centre

Dundee cycle shop owner Bryn Williams handed over a bike worth £450 today to help the Brae Riding School for the Disabled.

The Ridgeback bike was first prize at a coffee morning in Broughty Ferry on 7^th November 2009. The event raised £1571 for the Brae Centre and Dundee woman Liz Heary won the top prize. She wasn't able to pick up her prize personally today but brother-in-law Dave Paterson - a volunteer at the Brae - accepted it on her behalf.

Brae Centre Manager Mary Sneddon said, 'Support from bisiness and people like Bryn are invaluable to our success.'The Brae Centre will have a further fundraising event this weekend when it hosts an equestrian vaulting exhibition - the equivalent of gymnastics on horses. (Photo courtesy of Evening Telegraph)

Forces Fund Boost for Charities

Four Tayside charities received a cash boost yesterday from the Tayside Police Benevolent Fund. Acting Chief Constable Justine Curran presented four cheques, each for £1000 to representatives from The Brae RDA Partnership, Capability Scotland, the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children, and Spectrum Dundee.

The Brae RDA Partnership is an independent part of the National Riding for the Disabled Association and £100,000 is needed each year to run the centre.

Mary Sneddon and Alison Doyle from the Brae RDA Partnership were at force headquarters to collect their cheque.

Chrissie takes the reins to overcome her fear

It was a small step for a 61 year old Dundee grandmother, but a giant leap for a woman with a lifelong fear of horses. Chrissie Macgillivray won the heartfelt admiration of everyone at the Brae Riding School for the Disabled yesterday when she climbed gingerly on horseback for the very first time.

Chrissie has been helping out at the Brae since her daughter June Mitchell and 18 year old grandson Dan, who is autistic, became involved. However, though she is happy to lend a hand with cleaning the centre, she has always been keen to give the horses a wide berth. 'They are just too big,' she explained.

Then Dan asked her to help feed one of the ponies. Seeing her reluctance, one of the other volunteers commented that she could be sponsored to tack up and ride a pony. Brave Chrissie rose to the challenge and her efforts were cheered on by an audience at the Brae to see an exhibition of equestrian vaulting - essentially performing gymnastics on the horse - by a team from specialist horse group Equibuddy. Not tempted to copy their feats, Chrissie overcame her nerves to help put the bridle and tighten the girth on one of their horses, before riding around the ring on pany, Dhughaill, led by Dan and assisted by June.

Afterwards Chrissie said, 'I'm still shaking. When I came off that horse, I thought my legs were going to give way'. Her efforts raised over £200 in sponsorship and she hoped to top that up with donations from yesterday's audience.

Manager at the Brae, Mary Sneddon said 'We thought this was a good time for Chrissie to do her challenge because there would be an audience to see her.' June is now one of the Saturday yard supervisors and Mary praised the three members of the family for all they do for the centre. Chrissie added, 'I think that was a one-off, but I do feel that I have achieved something at the age of 61'.

Coffee Morning - Saturday 7^th November 2009. We had a very successful coffee morning and raised £1350. A huge thanks to all who helped on the day, those who donated to the stalls and raffles, and of course to those who came along to support our efforts.

Nursery Raises Funds for Riding for the Disabled

Thanks to a great effort from everyone involved, a cheque for £1,176.66 will be presented at the Teddy Bear Club Nursery, Thomas Wise Place, Dundee to Mary Sneddon, Centre Manager of The Brae, Riding for the Disabled, based in Broughty Ferry, on Tuesday, 3 November 2009 at 2.00pm.

Eythan Galloway, who attends the nursery, loves his visits to The Brae and the nursery was delighted to take part in a number of events to raise valuable funds for this worthy charity. A Fancy Dress Funday was held where staff and children paid £1,00 to come in wearing the dress of their choice. Copies of Dawn's Cookbook, a collection of the children's favourite recipes from the nursery's cook, were sold for £2.00. Another member of staff, who worked with Eythan, undertook a sponsored walk from the nursery - situated in the grounds of Ninewells Hospital - to her home in Broughty Ferry. She also held a demonstration massage day, giving 15 minute massage sessions in Broughty Ferry to raise even more money.

A spokeswoman for the nursery said, 'All the children, parents and staff made a huge effort to help raise as much money as possible, aiming for £1,000. We are all delighted to have reached that target and would like to thank everyone for their generous donations.' (photo courtesy of the Courier)

Pub Quiz at the Fort Bar on Mon 19th Oct raised £721- thanks to John Brown quiz master, Fort Bar, those who donated raffle prizes and of course those who came along to support on the night.

Bag Pack at Sainsbury's on Sat 10th Oct raised £955- Thank you to everyone who helped at the bag pack- and to Sainsbury's staff for allowing us to have the bag pack and support on the day