HAWORTH Riding for the Disabled (RDA) has received a £10,000 boost.

The cash, from Santander, will pay for coaching for riders on the group's mechanical horse.

Haworth RDA is among about 100 social ventures across the UK to share in nearly £1 million this year from Santander’s Social Enterprise Development Awards scheme.

Jackie Butterfield, for the RDA, said: "It was great to hear we'd been chosen to receive an award, as it will help us make the mechanical horse much more accessible to our users.

"We will be able to develop the physical wellbeing of some riders and advance the riding skills of others by having a team in place to focus solely on the mechanical horse.

"It has also allowed us to subsidise the cost of a riding lesson on the horse. We are delighted."

Riders from the group have enjoyed success in a national championships.

Eight qualified for the three-day RDA event, at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.

The championships – the biggest event of its kind in the world – features dressage, carriage driving, show jumping, vaulting, a countryside challenge and arts and crafts.

In the junior dressage contest, James Reed Griffiths was runner-up and his brother Euan third.

Bethany Jones took third spot in the senior dressage and Angela McGavern fifth.

The junior countryside challenge saw Ashley Joliffe finish seventh. Also competing were Callie Sharples, the top-scoring Special Olympian and Pony Club member at the event, and Benjamin Ashton.

And in the senior countryside challenge, Jenny Lee was fourth.

Laura Butterfield, group instructor at Haworth RDA, said: "This is the most riders we have ever had qualify for the nationals and the best results too.

"We are so proud of all our riders' achievements."

Euan said: "It was brilliant. It was so much fun. I can't wait to go again."