A RIDING school which helps improves the lives of disabled children and adults is set to re-open at a new venue in Snowdonia.

The Treborth Riding for the Disabled group, which is run by stalwart volunteer for the Riding for the Disabled Association Mary Axford MBE closed in March while it looked for a new venue.

But it has now confirmed, after many years in its current location, it is set to reopen at the Waunfawr-based Snowdonia Riding Stables.

The Treborth group originally started out in 1976 in the grounds of Penrhyn Castle as the Tal Y Bont group.

In 1981, it moved to Treborth School, where it served school groups, and held sessions for disabled children in mainstream education and disabled adults living in the surrounding community.

However, four years ago, the Treborth School was closed and the site, where the riding school was based, was prepared to be sold.

The future of the riding school was uncertain for a while, but Snowdonia Riding Stables, run by Melissa Hickey, and husband Alex, stepped in to help.

Melissa Hickey said; "We look forward to welcoming the riders and volunteers from Treborth Riding for the Disabled group.

"We are glad to be able to help them out and keep them going. We already do a lot of work with disabled children and adults, so we have the experience to be able to help and our horses and ponies have the right temperament, as they are quite used to people and especially, dealing with learner riders.

Mary Axford said: "We wanted people to know that the service will still keep running and we will be using Snowdonia's ponies and horses.

"There are still some final arrangements to be completed before we can start. We are having a special mounting block made and a ramp. But hopefully, we'll be up and running again soon."

Former vet Mary, received her MBE for her services to disabled people in North Wales. She also received the President's Award, the the most prestigious volunteers award within the Riding for Disabled Association.

The RDA group is always looking for volunteers to help out.

If anyone is interested in helping when the group moves to Waunfawr please contact Mary Axoford on 01248 450 618.