What We Offer

Riding lessons

Assessment lessons

Every new rider at STE will have an initial Assessment lesson unless taking part in a Pony Day. This is a fantastic opportunity to discuss any previous equestrian experience with our highly qualified instructors and for them to assess your ridden skills. Your instructor will then grade your ability and establish goals for future lessons.

Regular Riding and Care Programme (Termly)

These are bespoke packages for our termly riders, (10 lessons per term with a 10% discount) and are either a 30 minute or a 45-minute lesson once a week. These lessons are a mixture of riding theory, handling and riding (dependent on grading).

Holiday Activities

During the school holidays and half terms, we offer different activities which cater to riders of all ages and abilities.
Please click on the link below to find out more.

BHS at STE

Challenge Awards

STE is a British Horse Society (BHS) Approved Riding Centre and are proud to be able to offer the inspirational BHS-designed Challenge Award programmes. Pony Stars, is the Junior Challenge Award programme aimed at students aged 5-11 and the Challenge Awards are targeted at older students and young adults.

Pony Stars – the Junior Challenge Award (ages 5-11)

The aim of Pony Stars is to encourage students to discover, develop and nurture their love for ponies and the outdoors. At STE, these fun and interactive hour-long sessions are delivered in a group setting and are an ideal way for students to make friends and to learn in a group environment.

• Each student will receive their own ‘My Challenge’ book to log their achievements. As they progress through the various challenges students can earn stickers, badges and rosettes.
• There are four levels which enable long-term progression and a range of activities: Shetland Striders, Dartmoor Dazzlers, Welshie Wizzers, Connemara Champs. In each group, students will work through sets of challenges that make up topics within set themes.

Challenge Awards – 11+ years old

The Challenge Awards are designed for older students and cover both riding and horse care. The group sessions that STE offer are an hour long and focus on the non-ridden aspects. The ridden aspects will be covered in separate riding lessons. There are four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Please click on the link below to find out more.

Challenge Awards and BHS Career Pathways

Once students have achieved the Silver Challenge Award, both theory and riding, they are eligible to book the BHS Stage 2 exam. As well as building confidence, skills and a greater depth of understanding for those who ride, a Stage 2 qualification can open up career opportunities in the equestrian world, such as assistant coach or assistant groom. STE is able to offer support  and guidance on the different pathways that are open to riders upon completing the different elements of their Silver Challenge Award.

BHS Ride Safe

This is an essential course for those who wish to ride horses on the roads and out in the countryside safely. We run courses in the holidays and if you wish to complete your BHS Stage 2 exam, you will need to complete your Ride Safe. These sessions are offered when there is sufficient demand to run a course.

Changing Lives through Horses (CLTH)

CLTH is a BHS initiative which ‘has already helped over 2000 disengaged young people gain key life skills and given them the tools to support their future careers.’

CLTH sessions are designed to build skills that are linked with the National Curriculum and at STE these sessions are offered as care and handling of the horses, rather than as ridden sessions. Six core values are the focus for the sessions: Communication, Confidence, Relationships, Teamwork, Responsibility and Perseverance.

Please click on the link to find out more about Changing Lives Through Horses.