Care home residents have been given a ‘very special’ horse riding experience.

Residents living at a Dorset care home visited the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) Saddle Club in Bovington in order to get nostalgic and have a go at riding a horse.

Max, who lives at Dorset House care home, said: “I was pleased that I had the chance to ride a horse. It was just as I remembered.”

Yvonne, who also lives at Dorset House, has previously ridden on Sally the horse, so was pleased to have the chance to do so again. She said: “It was simply wonderful. A very special experience for me.”

The team at Care South who own the care home also made a generous donation of £1,000 to the club.

Martin Ross, Director of Care at Home, said: “It was lovely to see the residents’ faces light up as soon as they saw the horses. We are so pleased to be able to give back to such a fantastic, worthy cause which provides so many benefits to the wellbeing of the Dorset House residents.”

Steph Buchanan BEM, Owner and Yard Manager at RAC Saddle Club, said: “Thank you so much to Care South for their generous donation which will enable us to continue helping more people to enjoy the benefits of equine therapy. It is always a joy to welcome the residents from Care South to meet the horses and have a chance to ride one which many haven’t done since they were children. Horses have a wonderful way of connecting with people, and we believe that it’s something that people of all ages should get to benefit from.”