The Oaklands School Of Riding

01/05/2026

❤️🐴 happy horses

14/04/2026

Few photos from our pony club days over the Easter half term 🐣

Next full pony club day
WEDNESDAY 27th MAY
10am-3pm

Slots will only be held for those who pay deposit
£10 secures child’s place 🐴
£40 members of the pony club (proof of membership number must be given- you must be a member with our centre)
£50 non members

18/03/2026

Happy horses, first night out for 2026 🐴❤️

05/03/2026

Such a beautiful soul 💔

This morning the equestrian world woke up to the news that Endo the Blind has passed away.

And if you’ve spent any time online this morning already, you’ll have seen it.
Tributes. Photos. Stories. People sharing the impact he had on them.

Some people might look at that and think, “It was just a horse on the internet.”

But grief doesn’t really work like that.

There’s a term called disenfranchised grief. It’s used to describe grief that society doesn’t always recognise as “valid” or worthy of mourning. The loss of an animal we never met. A horse that lived on the other side of the world. A creature we only knew through photos and videos.

Yet somehow… they still mattered.

Endo represented something bigger than himself.
He was a horse who moved through the world with trust, guidance, and an extraordinary partnership with the humans around him. People followed his story because it reminded them of resilience. Of kindness. Of what horses are capable of when someone believes in them.

So when a horse like that dies, the sadness spreads far beyond one yard or one family.

It ripples through a whole community.

The equestrian world can be many things. Opinionated. Chaotic. Occasionally completely unhinged. But when a horse like Endo leaves us, you see the other side of it.

Thousands of people pausing their day to honour a life.

And that matters.

Because grief is really just love with nowhere to go.

Rest easy, Endo.
You reminded a lot of people what horses are capable of.

Here's my little tribute ❤️ 🌈
🌈🐴💛

Endo the Blind

18/02/2026

⭐️ PONY CLUB DATES FOR 2026 ⭐️

Save the dates!

It’s not all about riding- our afternoon pony club sessions are a great way to make new friends, build confidence on the ground, learn about general pony care, yard safety and lots more!

*please note that weekend afternoon session dates may change*

SPACES ARE LIMITED
Deposit secures place.
Deposits are non refundable.

For any more information on our pony club sessions please send us a message on here or message Lottie- 07769603962 🙂🐴

23/01/2026

100%

I’m going to say something that makes people uncomfortable.
I’m okay with that.

If the idea of your horse slipping, tripping, tweaking something, or injuring themselves while just… being a horse feels intolerable to you, it might be time to pause and reflect on horse ownership.

Not judge. Reflect.

Horses are not fragile antiques. They are not fine china. They are not financial portfolios that must be preserved in mint condition.

They are big, reactive, occasionally chaotic prey animals who evolved to move, roam, graze, roll, argue with the wind, and yes, sometimes fall over for no good reason at all.

I hear versions of this constantly:

“My horse is too valuable to risk turnout.” “He’s had an injury, I can’t let him move freely.” “I just couldn’t cope if something else happened.”

And honestly, I understand that fear. Loving a horse rewires your nervous system. The stakes feel enormous.

But here’s the uncomfortable part.

When fear starts dictating:

• minimal turnout
• restricted movement
• prolonged confinement
• lives shaped around human anxiety rather than equine needs

We quietly slide from protection into control.

Welfare is not the same as risk elimination. Welfare is about weighing risk against quality of life.

A horse can injure themselves in a stable. A horse can colic standing still. A horse can suffer a catastrophic injury doing absolutely nothing dramatic at all.

Removing all risk is a fantasy. Movement is real. Choice is real. Social contact is real. Being allowed to live like a horse is real.

Of course there are nuances. Rehab cases. Acute injuries. Vet-led restrictions. This is not a call to be careless or irresponsible.

It is an invitation to ask an honest question:

Am I managing my horse’s wellbeing…
or am I managing my own fear?

If the thought of your horse living a full, imperfect, slightly risky life feels unbearable, that’s not a moral failing. But it is something worth sitting with.

Because horses don’t owe us lifelong soundness. They don’t owe us predictability. They don’t owe us protection from our own anxiety.

They deserve a life.

🐴

09/01/2026

❄️ WE ARE OPEN AS NORMAL TODAY FOR LESSONS ❄️

No snow here for us!

06/01/2026

How very true 😂🐴

24/12/2025

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄❤️

15/12/2025

🎄 on Saturday we held our annual Christmas fancy dress.

Fantastic effort made from everyone, the ponies looked AMAZING! It’s definitely fair to say we have some very tolerant horses and ponies that don’t mind getting into the festive spirit!

Rylee, Harry & Freddie took 🥇 for best dressed pony with a very close 🥈 from Olivia, Issy & Squid.

Best dressed rider 🥇 went to Lillie
With 🥈 going to the 2 grinch’s Hattie & Lily

Was great to see some new faces taking part but even nicer to see the older ones still wanting to join in & take part.

Pizza, sweets and games then followed before home.

Can’t believe it was our last pony club activity of 2025!

2026 pony club dates are being sorted and will be out in the new year 👀🐴
If your interested in becoming a pony club member visit the pony club website for more information: www.pcuk.org

Merry Christmas everyone 🎄🎅❄️☃️

10/12/2025

💯