Fundraising underway to replace indoor arena roof at Uist Community Riding School

Abigail Taylor

Uist Community Riding School has launched a campaign to raise £25,000 to replace the roof of the indoor arena (pictured below) on the site at Balivanich. 

Staff and volunteers hope to raise the amount required and see a new roof in place before the end of 2021.

First set up in 1974 as an Army Saddle Club to provide riding and tuition for service personnel and their families, the riding school is now community owned and trades as a social enterprise as Uist Community Riding School.

Natasha Wilson (pictured above) is yard manager for Uist Community Riding School.

Speaking with Am Pàipear, she explained the urgency of the new roof: “We were given a quote to get the roof repaired, it has holes in it and several panels missing and the company advised it not likely to last another winter if we don’t get it fixed as soon as possible.

“Work to replace the roof can’t be done in the winter, as it wouldn’t be safe, so it needs to be completed before the worst of the weather comes in,” continued Natasha.

Uist Community Riding School created a ‘Go Fund Me’ page to raise part of the necessary £25,000 and to date this has brought in close to £500.

Riders use the arena for practice and tuition all year round and, without it, the school would not be able to function.

Natasha continued: “There are 23 horses here that need to be looked after all year round and in the winter we are limited to what we can do in order to make money.

“The indoor arena is the only space we can use during these months and they’re also the most expensive months to keep the horses as well. We make most of our income over the summer months and we do enough in the winter to keep us going.

“We really rely on the indoor arena in terms of the weather. Even in the summer the wind may affect outdoor lessons meaning we need to head inside.”

In addition to lessons, in the winter months the arena is used to house horses.

COVID-19 resulted in a further strain on the enterprise, due to three extended closures across the past year. However, bookings are looking healthy for this summer.

Working with about 15 volunteers, Natasha is trying to think of new ways to create an income for the school.

“I am currently doing a course about how to use horses for therapy so we are hoping that will create a good revenue stream. There are not a lot of facilities like that here on the islands for people struggling with addiction or mental health issues and it really helps us too, for example older horses can still be working even if they can’t be out on walks. It’s a really good way to move forward looking to the future.”

Natasha and her team meanwhile continue to look for new ways to raise money for the arena roof before the onset of winter 2021.

You can donate to the ‘Go Fund Me’ page here: Fundraiser by Uist Community Riding School : Help replace UCRS arena roof (gofundme.com)