A charity providing therapeutic horse riding sessions for disabled people has been awarded £10,000.

Haworth Riding for the Disabled (RDA) was presented with the cash by the charitable arm of Sovereign Health Care.

The money will be used to enable Haworth RDA to employ local resident, Laura Bland, as a volunteer and child development officer for 12 months.

Laura, 27, who is a qualified riding instructor, said she was excited to be taking on her new role. She has previously been involved with the charity as a volunteer, then as head girl.

Sovereign Health Care chairman, Michael Bower, who visited the group’s Vale Mill Lane stables last Wednesday, said: “Each year we give half-a-million pounds to charities.

“We focus on those related to health and wellbeing, and prioritise those that are regionally based.

“Riding for disabled people fits very much within health and wellbeing, and it’s an honour to be supporting a charity that provides this activity. We believe the money we give should touch people’s lives and make a difference.”

Haworth RDA yard manager, Jackie Butterfield, said the £10,000 was a major contribution, adding it was never easy to secure grants large enough to cover salaries.

Meanwhile, at least 70 people enjoyed an entertaining exhibition of American Western-style horse riding in Haworth in aid of RDA.

They watched a show performed by 18-year-old Joe Midgley, from Denholme, who was riding his American Quarter Horse – Waccabuc Bandito.

He demonstrated the difference between Western and British-style horse riding, showing how cowboys have to skillfully control their horses one-handed in order to lasso cattle.

He staged the fundraising exhibition at the Haworth RDA stables.

Mrs Butterfield said: “The £600 Joe helped to raise was for four of our riders to attend the Special Olympics, which will be held in July at Hartpury College in Gloucester.

“We’re looking to raise a total of £2,900 to send them to the event for five days.

“We provided refreshments, a tombola and a mechanical rodeo bull for the Western exhibition evening. It was a really good event and very well attended.”