Riding for the Disabled Barlavento

Riding for the Disabled Barlavento (Associação de Equitação Adaptada Barlavento) is a voluntary, non-profit charity offering therapeutic horse riding to people with disabilities in the western Algarve. It has been based since early 2007 at the Centro Hípico Quinta do Paraíso Alto, near Bensafrim, a short drive from Lagos and close to the Monchique hills. The charity works with riders of many ages and a wide range of physical and psychological disabilities, using horses that are specially selected and trained for their calm, patient temperament. Riders take part for health, wellbeing and personal development, and some go on to compete in national and international events, including the Special Olympics. All sessions are run by trained volunteers aged 16 and over. Riding for the Disabled Barlavento depends on volunteers and donations to keep running. People can get involved by volunteering (training is provided), by making a one-off or monthly donation, by sponsoring the charity, or by leaving a legacy gift; the charity has also fundraised through events such as a 240km six-day marathon ride that raised over EUR 35,000 to help establish it.