The group has been celebrating 21 successful years of success at Acrecliffe Equestrian Centre where it was founded by owner Anne Everall and a group of friends.

But for a long time the group has wanted to own or lease its own premises and now the trustees have decided to make a break from the present base and look around.

"This is no easy task given the present financial climate," said chairman Judy Olby. " However, we would like to be able to give more time to our riders and focus on their needs.

"Amongst our successes we have para rider Kathryn Wheelock who has represented England and currently rides for Ireland and who works as a volunteer with our group regularly. She has been an inspiration.

"Following in her footsteps we have two students attending The Fortune Centre in Dorset, a specialist college for students with learning difficulties where the entire curriculum is centred on horse-management and riding."

Members of the group have had numerous successes at RDA National Championships over several years. Says Judy: "These are outstanding achievements but we are equally proud of a three-year-old with cerebral palsy managing to sit upright in the saddle for a whole lesson, of autistic children who concentrate and ride quietly within a group, of adults with MS for whom mounting requires supreme effort.

"We provide riding for two school groups each week which have brought different achievements such as overcoming a fear of horses to being able to control a desire to rush about and shout. Each is a valued personal success story."

One of the volunteers, Bernie, educated in a Special School, is one of three nominees for the MENCAP volunteer of the year award.

The group wants to expand and has asked for help. So if there is anybody who could offer the group assistance in establishing a new home, help them with sponsorship and ideas for funding, the organisers would be delighted to hear from you. Contact chairman, Judy Olby on 0845 241 6311.

Bad weather has forced the organisers to cancel Britain's biggest annual horse driving trials and country fair more than eight months before it was due to take place.

Every summer up to 50,000 spectators attend the Lowther Show, in Cumbria, whose patron is the Duke of Edinburgh.

But the 2009 event has already been called off after persistent rain swamped the showground near Penrith in recent months, making it impossible for it to go ahead next August.

Met Office figures show that almost a yard of rain has fallen locally in the last four complete months from July to October inclusive, with some monthly totals being almost double the average.

The wet weather had forced the final day of the three-day show to be cancelled in August, the first time this had happened since it was first staged on the 3,000-acre Lowther Estate in 1973.

Show director Robert Benson said the continued rain had not given staff any chance to repair the heavily-muddied ground or start preparing it for next year.

"In some parts it is still like the Somme. To hold a show in 2009 would have potentially been lethal if the weather had gone against us again."


Celebrities take centre stage in new event

There Is going to be more than a touch of Strictly Come Dancing at the new Express Eventing International Cup at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff later this month.

Model Jodie Kidd, currently proving to be an unexpected star on the dance floor, will be taking part in the event and Strictly judge Arlene Phillips will be there, too, to give her outspoken views on the freestyle dressage to music section.

Jodie and TV presenter Tara Palmer-Tomkinson have both signed up to take part in what is being billed as the Twenty20 of equestrianism.

The two TV stars will saddle up their horses for a charity jump-off at th Express Eventing International Cup on November 30.

They will be battling it out in their own show-jumping competition, tackling the same jumps as some of the world's top riders, who will be competing later in the day.

Jodie Kidd, who is a keen rider and polo player, said: "I'm really looking forward to taking part on the day; I love riding and think it will be great fun to compete against Tara."

Tara has ridden since she was a child but is not quite so experienced. She said: "I know Jodie is a great rider and she is also a good friend. I may not be up to her standard but I definitely come from a fearless family."

Express Eventing, a compact version of the sport, is being run in association with British Eventing condensing three days of dressage, show-jumping and cross-country into half-a-day under one roof. Some of the top riders taking part include Mark Todd and Olympians William Fox-Pitt, Mary King and Tina Cook. More information at www.eeicup.com or 08705 582582.