DISABLED children, for whom one of the highlights of the week is a riding lesson at Liphook, have had lessons cancelled after thieves stole tack worth £15,000.
Thirty saddles and a couple of bridles were stolen in raid on Bridge Farm Riding School, off Hewshott Lane, on Tuesday night
Thieves drove across several fields to reach the livery and riding stables sometime after 7 pm. They cut electric wires and sheep fences to adjoining farmland.
They broke into the riding school by forcing open heavy doors to the tack room while leaving the locks intact.
"I am shocked, stunned, and feel physically sick," a livery owner and Bridge Farm employee Leigh Keep told The Herald on Wednesday morning.
"It is going to take months to replace the tack," said Mrs Keep.
Up to 10 children aged from seven years, and with a range of disabilities, travel from Midhurst to the stables on a regular basis.
"We have little ones due to start in September and a party for 12 disabled children in two weeks' time.
"Our whole business has come to a grinding halt because of it," said Mrs Leigh.
Now the riding school has appealed for anybody with spare saddles to either donate or lend them to the stables to allow the disabled riders to continue their lessons.
WPc Annabel Berry, who is dealing with the case, said: "We have recovered lots of stolen tack in Hampshire, but owners should record full details, sizes, colours, batch numbers, and any other identifying features and take photographs," she said.
"They should also keep them locked in a secure place and put in as many deterrents to protect their property as possible," she said.
Anybody who can help with the loan or donation of saddles is asked to phone 07721 650758.
Anyone with any information on the theft should contact WPc Berry on 0845 045 45 45 quoting crime number OW/7030/03.