We hold riding lessons at two centres, Cowley Riding School (Holmesfield) and Smeltings Farm Riding Centre (Ringinglow), where we hire ponies and facilities for 5 riding sessions each week for around 40 disabled children and adults. Our 40 dedicated volunteers ensure that the lessons are safe and fun by side walking or leading the ponies.

Our riders have a range of physical and learning disabilities, movement difficulties, behavioural problems, etc. Interaction with horses can help the riders, their families, and their teachers live with their disability as it:
enhances physical development by building up muscle tone; loosening underused joints; and increasing independent movement, mobility, stamina, and stability, encourages riders with speech and language difficulties to interact with the horses and helpers, improves a rider's interpersonal skills as it is a social and relaxed event, calms children who are prone to behavioural problems or seizures.

Classes:
Cowley Riding School, Dronfield, S18 7SD (Monday, Tuesday & Thursday); Smelting Farm Riding Stables, S11 7TD (Monday & Thursday).

We also welcome volunteers:
Our group could not function without our volunteers. Around 40 people help every week during school term times giving about 1.5 hours of their time. They do a variety of tasks and do have some experience of horses. Tasks include:

tacking up and untacking horses
helping riders mount and dismount
leading the ponies/horses
side walking to help ensure that the riders follow instructions and are steady
manure picking
helping make lessons fun and informative.