ROTARY clubs have teamed up to buy a horse for a county charity.

Dunbar, Haddington, North Berwick, Musselburgh, Esk Valley and Longniddry’s clubs put their money together to buy Uist, who is now part of the Muirfield Riding Therapy stables at West Fenton, near Gullane.

The 10-year-old is now fully trained and along with 12 other horses is used by disabled children and adults.

Susan Law, chairwoman of Muirfield Riding Therapy, said: “We are thrilled.

“When you are buying a horse for the work that we do, you have to make sure they have got the right kind of temperament.

“We had another horse in mind but he was not suited. Uist is very easy-going and stoical.”

Uist will also be involved with the group’s hippotherapy, which is led by a specialist type of physiotherapist called a hippotherapist. That allows the hippotherapist to ride alongside a youngster who has little or no head control.

The charity, which has been running for more than 25 years, offers people the chance to ride free of charge in a safe and stimulating environment.

There are seven riding sessions per week, both outdoor and indoor, which allows 120 riders to benefit from riding therapy on the specially trained ponies.

The sessions are run entirely by trained volunteers.

Andrew Brown, president of Dunbar Rotary Club, was joined by colleagues Elaine O’Brien and Wendy Badger, as well as Bruce Wilson from North Berwick Rotary Club, in seeing how Uist was getting on in his new home.

Mr Brown said: “Uist is such a placid, wonderful animal.

“It was lovely to see the horse and it was one of the better donations we have made.”

The idea came about through Longniddry Rotary Club, with each group putting in £600 to purchase Uist.

Members of the public can now sponsor Uist or any of the other ponies at MRT through the Sponsor a Pony scheme. Caring for the ponies costs about £3,000 each year, with the ponies chosen and trained to offer the riders the best therapeutic benefit.

For more information, visit muirfieldridingtherapy.org.uk