A riding school and training centre is better-equipped than ever to deliver its longstanding excellent work in the community after receiving support from the Skills Escalator programme.

Moor Farm Stables, in Corley Moor, teaches horse-riding and horse care for the general public from ages three years to 80-plus. They deliver British Horse Society courses for children and young people who have become disengaged or excluded from education or training, and those with needs which mean they require additional support. Moor Farm Stables is also a member of The Riding for the Disabled Association and specialise in riding for people with disabilities.

More than 250 riders a week benefit from the skills, care and compassion of the 15-strong team under business owner Liz White who has owned and run the stables since 1991. Those riders enjoy contact with horses in a safe and beautiful environment in the hands of staff who have all benefited from recent safeguarding training funded by the Skills Escalator,

“Safeguarding has of course always been integral to what we do,” said Liz. “The extra training has benefitted as to extra requirements needed for school children on our courses, to ensure that our training is equivalent to that of the school teachers. The Skills Escalator funding really assisted the business. It was amazing how it came at exactly the right time. The training was brilliant and has helped us make sure everything is up to date for the children we take.

“We are very lucky to have such a wonderful team here. All the training we do, from coaching training, First Aid training, Safeguarding training, horsemanship and riding skills training etc filters down though the staff to our 250 riders a week. We always want to learn more and improve, we pass our knowledge on to our clients.”

Part of the Skills Escalator funding will also enable Liz and some of her staff to receive training from the organisation set up by renowned horse whisperer Monty Roberts.

“Monty is one of the world’s best - he has worked all kinds of horses and for many people, including for the Queen,” said Liz. ”He trains horses with the carrot rather than the stick which is brilliant because you get much more out of animals with that approach. I am very excited to take the extra course.”