A new program introduced this year to the service the Bathurst Riding for Disabled (RDA) provides has had a major setback.

The RDA Therapy Farm in Research Station Drive next to the CSU campus is now in recovery mode. That follows what was a weekend of hell for the animals involved in the initiative which is designed to give people with a disability a better quality of life.

Intruders broke into the grounds of the RDA and caused major trauma to the baby animals at the Therapy Farm.

It was the last straw for RDA president Nola Ramsay.

“This is the third time this has happened and we’ve had enough,” she said.

“A vital part of the Therapy Farm is having animals that are very docile and all this type of behaviour does is stir them up and send them crazy.

“Starbuck the miniature horse was a mess, running around and around in a real state.”

Mrs Ramsay said they also have a Shetland pony, two llamas, a couple of donkeys, a miniature calf, some sheep as well as guinea pigs, cockatoos and bottle-fed lambs.

“The program’s been a runaway success,” she said.

“It’s run by a teacher’s aid and a physiotherapist and after discussing its merits for several years, finally got off the ground in 2009.

“But this latest attack over the weekend is a major blow. Many of the animals have now been rendered unsuitable to work with disabled people.

“I would ask anyone in the community to ring the police or Mitchell Security if they see anyone trying to break into our grounds.

“This type of behaviour shows a complete lack of respect for what the RDA is trying to achieve. It’s really disappointing.”

Mrs Ramsay said the RDA is a program where children and adults gain independence through the joy of horse riding.

“Our Therapy Farm provides a program for interaction with animals for people that are either not comfortable or not able to participate in the horse riding side of the initiative.”