Dunedin Riding for the Disabled received $1200 from the Refuel church in Fairfield after the church raised funds through a quiz night.
Dunedin RDA operations manager Katy Ferguson said the centre's herd had increased to nine with the addition of a horse named Red.
Standing more than 15 hands tall - about 152cm - Red
will be the centre's biggest horse.
Ms Ferguson said Red's size and good nature meant he would suit older riders wanting to move faster than a walk.
''He's bigger and he's very quiet and he has got very nice paces.
''He suits some of our older riders who are wanting to do more than just walking.
''He's safe enough for them to do a little bit more.''
Red was welcomed to the fold but his arrival, and hungry horses over the winter, meant additional costs needed to be met, so the donation was gladly received, Ms Ferguson said.
''That's really big for us, especially midwinter. Funds get low for us midwinter, when we're feeding quite a lot of horses.''
She said the centre had been fortunate to receive ''quite a bit'' of funding for new horses but they also carried extra cost with them.
''They need their shoes and they need feed and all of that, so it all adds up.''
A new stable block, which would house five horses over the winter months in years to come, was nearing completion.
Ms Ferguson said the stable block would also help to reduce the wear on the centre's 2ha space in Fairfield.
''Those should be finished up in the next coming weeks and that'll make a huge difference from next winter as we'll be able to rest our paddocks.
''With nine horses, it's quite important that we're clever about the way in which we use our five acres.''
