04/04/2026
I’ve gone back and forth on writing this more times than I can count, because I didn’t really want to have to say it.
But I’ve always been honest with you all, and I’m not going to change that now.
The riding school is where all of this started. A small muddy paddock and not much else and we built it from there. So many of you have been part of that journey with us, and that’s what makes this so hard.
The vision was always The Orchard Equine College. That was always the goal. But I genuinely believed we could do both.
If I’m honest, I’ve held onto the riding school longer than I should have, because of the people. I didn’t want to upset anyone or feel like I was letting people down.
I’ve tried to make it work. I’ve tried to balance it so it was fair on the horses, the staff, and everyone involved, but the reality is, it’s just not possible to keep doing it in a way that meets the standards I expect.
The horses come first. Always. And I can’t ignore that this model is hard on them. The same goes for our team, and for us as a whole.
Because of that, I’ve made the decision that the riding school will be closing over the coming months, including all lessons and 1:1 sessions.
When I look at the The Orchard Equine College, the impact it has, the outcomes we see, and the difference it makes, that’s where our heart is. That’s what feels right. That’s where our energy needs to go.
The reality is, our yard is now too small to do both properly. We’ve reached capacity, and trying to continue running both a riding school and a college here means something has to give and I’m not willing for that to be the welfare of our horses, the wellbeing of our staff, or the standard of what we deliver.
We’re growing, and we’re now looking towards moving to a bigger site so we can continue developing the college in the way it deserves.
Our horses aren’t going anywhere, and neither is our team, we’re all moving forward together into the college side of things, which feels like the right place for us all to be.
I also want to say thank you to my team for backing me through this. It’s not an easy decision, and that support means a lot.
We are still Orchard. That’s not changing. And there will still be opportunities and ways for you to stay involved, but in a way that fits with where we’re going.
And we’re still here. Always happy for a cuppa and a chat ☕️
This isn’t a reflection on any of you. If anything, it’s because of you that this has been so hard to let go.
Thank you for being part of this with us. It genuinely means more than I can say 🤍
Love Jay
x
