Now those involved in the Brae Partnership, a charity set up to develop and run the riding school, are looking forward to the day when its doors open.

As ground preparations for construction began on the site, north of Linlathen Nursing Home, off Arbroath Road, one of the Brae directors said there was already an informal waiting list of clients.

Yvonne Miskell, a physiotherapist, said it would take between five and seven months to build the £400,000 riding school, depending on the weather.

Princess Anne, as patron of Riding for the Disabled Association, would be invited to the official opening some time after the centre is up and running.

The riding school will be open on weekdays and Saturday mornings, and is looking for volunteers to help the adults and children attending.

“We need people to lead, need people to muck out, tack up and groom the horses,” said Yvonne.

She said the beauty of the new centre was it had indoor facilities where disabled people could ride all year round. The facility would also be available to others who wanted to stage events there.

“We need to generate income to keep the place running,” Yvonne added.

The Brae Partnership wants to create a Scots centre of excellence where instructors, physio-therapists and helpers are trained to work with disabled riders.

As well as being fun, riding offers disabled people improved balance, raises self-esteem and improves co-ordination.

The riding centre is being developed to British show jumping standards. It will have an 1800-square-metre indoor arena with an additional 540 square metres of stable and office accommodation. There will also be a 3200-square-metre outdoor arena plus parking for cars and horseboxes.

The centre will house changing areas, kitchen facilities, a physiotherapy room, a small meeting room, tack and feed rooms and a viewing area.