THE first turf at a new education suite at a riding school for the disabled was cut yesterday - with a little help from Scilla, the Shetland pony.
Staff at the Unicorn Centre, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, were joined by their four-legged friend and John Hogg, the principal of Middlesbrough College, to launch the £153,000 project.
The suite will mean the centre can train more young disabled and able-bodied people in horse care and riding qualifications, in partnership with Middlesbrough College.
Centre chairman Julie Elphee said: "When the centre opened in 1998, we did not envisage that our training courses would be so popular.
"With this new facility, we will be able to considerably expand what we have to offer and diversify into other, related fields."
The centre has 19 horses and ponies, including Scilla, and provides riding therapy for more than 150 adults and children each week.
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