The Orchard Equine College

02/12/2025

Super cool treat for our learners today ! Thanks so much guys 🤍🙌🏼🐎

27/11/2025

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at The Orchard Equine College! 🎄Our staff worked hard (and laughed even harder) getting the decorations up - despite the tree’s refusal to cooperate 😂Thanks to Pleveys Garden World for the biggest and most beautiful Tree 🌲 ✨

19/11/2025

We were delighted to welcome Emerald Equine Vets back to The Orchard Equine College for their monthly visit! 🌿💚

Our learners continued building their knowledge of equine health and welfare, learning how to recognise early signs of illness, carry out routine health checks with confidence, and understand when veterinary intervention is needed.

This month’s session also included a practical lameness assessment, giving students the chance to observe gait changes, identify potential issues, and discuss real diagnostic approaches with experienced vets.

These invaluable hands-on experiences help our young people connect classroom learning to real-world practice, strengthening their teamwork, curiosity, and professional skills as they work towards future careers in the equine industry.

15/11/2025

Here’s one of our brilliant post-16 learners enjoying a riding session on one of our most loved ponies spider ,
Our approach is all about building skills slowly, safely and correctly, helping each young person gain confidence and overcome challenges at their own pace.

Our post-16 pathway includes Level 1 and Level 2 City & Guilds Horse Care, with progression into Level 3 and coaching for learners ready to advance their equine education.

13/11/2025

We are proud to be a City & Guilds Approved Centre, offering young people nationally recognised qualifications in a safe, supportive environment.

Being approved by City & Guilds means our training meets strict quality standards, our assessments are reliable, and every learner works toward qualifications that are respected across the equine industry.

This gives our students a trusted pathway into further education, apprenticeships, and future employment.

If you’d like to learn more about our accredited programmes, feel free to get in touch.

12/11/2025

Huge thank you to Katie from Sue Carson Saddles North for coming out today for an amazing demo and hands-on session! 🙌

Our learners got real-world experience in assessing horses for saddle fit, taking accurate back templates, learning how to measure for different saddle types, and understanding how correct saddle fit impacts comfort and performance. 🐴

It was a brilliant opportunity for them to put their classroom learning into practice and they absolutely loved it!

Sue Carson Saddles

09/11/2025

We are pleased to share this update from Reins and Roots CIC as we continue our collaborative work. Please contact Reins and Roots directly for further details ☺️🌿🤍🐎

🌿🤍 Reins and Roots CIC: New community sessions starting January 2026 🐎

Reins and Roots CIC and The Orchard Equine College will be working in collaboration, while continuing to operate as two separate organisations with different roles.

The Orchard Equine College will continue to offer its established alternative provision and specialist post 16 programmes.

From January 2026, Reins and Roots CIC will introduce community based equine sessions for young people and adults who would benefit from supportive, hands on time with horses outside of formal education pathways.

These sessions are inspired by the ethos of The Orchard Equine College and focus on:
• Practical equine activities
• Building confidence
• Supportive, calm learning
• Personal development in a nurturing environment

These sessions are separate from the college’s formal programmes and do not include reporting requirements. They are designed to be flexible and accessible for the wider community.

More information on sessions, prices, times, and booking will be shared soon.

We look forward to welcoming you in the new year 🤍🌿

09/11/2025

The Orchard Reins and Roots Journey 🌿

A calm, supportive programme for young people who find mainstream education difficult.
Through hands-on work with horses and nature, learners build confidence, emotional regulation, communication, and positive routines. Sessions run 1–3 days per week and are tailored to each young person’s needs.

We welcome learners from Primary to Post-16, with small groups, trauma-informed practice, and a caring team who understand SEN and SEMH needs.

Our next intake is January 2026.
If you know a young person who may benefit from a nurturing alternative provision, message us to find out more.

08/11/2025

For those who are new here, Hi, I’m Ellie.

I’m a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist, and I’m passionate about helping horses feel comfortable, move freely, and recover from muscle tension and soreness.

I’ve supported a wide range of horses, including:
• Competition horses
• Racehorses
• Happy hackers
• Older horses who benefit from gentle, targeted work

My focus is always on improving comfort, supporting performance, and helping every horse feel their best.

If you’d like to know how massage could help your horse, feel free to comment below or send me a message anytime 🐴💬

07/11/2025

No Stirrup November at The Orchard Equine College!

This month, our learners (and staff!) are taking on the challenge , a test of balance, posture, and perseverance in the saddle .

Through dedicated practice and determination, we’re not just building stronger riders ,we’re building resilience, confidence, and trust between horse and rider.

Every bounce, wobble, and laugh along the way is part of the journey toward becoming more balanced, focused, and connected.

05/11/2025

Firework season can create stress for horses.

This week, our learners have been looking at ways in which thoughtful preparation can help to minimise the stress as much as possible.

We have explored different strategies such as providing background noise and lighting, maintaining a calm approach during handling, and ensuring the horses here have a predictable, consistent routine.

What have you been doing to help your horses this week?