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North Shore Riding for the Disabled (NSRDA) in Stillwater recently celebrated the completion of an immense roof, providing shelter for the horses, and children whose lives they enrich.
Costing around $600,000 and measuring about 50m x 32m, the structure was financed by two bequests and a major drive, led by Adrianne Cranshaw, to secure grants and raise funds.
Previously, rainy days meant disappointment for the children coming to ride.
The project includes an extensive stormwater retention system, while commercial sprinklers keep the arena surface damp, tamping down the dust. On hot summer days, the roof provides shade, yet with the breeze coming through the open sides, one of the trainers likens it to an “air-conditioned office”.
Doing the opening honours on Saturday, March 2, Grand Designs NZ host, architect Tom Webster marvelled at the “quite mindboggling” structure, and called it “a very special day for a very special organisation”.
Given the roof’s size, some 2000 litres of water is collected for every millimetre of rainfall. With Auckland’s rainfall, that equated to 2.2 million litres of water not falling on the horses and riders each year, Tom said.
“But the most remarkable thing is unquantifiable, and that is the value that this place gives to this amazing community.”
North Shore RDA president Tim Lofts said it was by far the biggest investment the organisation had made since buying the land. He praised roof builder SmartShelters for its willingness to do the work over school holidays, rather than term times when riding occurs.
“Without that flexibility we could have lost an entire term of riding.”
Before Tom cut a ribbon, visitors were treated to a display of young riders undergoing warm-up exercises and activities.
A pool of more than 70 riders visit NSRDA, some coming in groups from schools, with riding taking place four days a week.
“The range of disability is very broad, from a range of physical disabilities, through autism, global learning delay and others,” Tim said.
In addition to the two bequests, funds for the roof came from NZCT ($200,000), Pub Charity ($100,000), Lottery Community Facilities ($100,000), North and South Trust ($40,000), Foundation North ($25,000), an individual donor ($5000) and a Givealittle page ($1400).
