Barrow Farm provides riding opportunities for 120 disabled children and adults every week. Riding gives them fun, fitness, friendship and fulfilment. We make riding accessible for people who, for whatever reason, cannot be catered for at another riding school.
Barrow Farm is a community of staff, volunteers and trustees committed to providing activities in a professional, safe, friendly and fun environment. We are a specialist centre, many of our riders have the most complex special needs - physical and learning difficulties, with many children having difficulties on the autistic spectrum.
Riding improves balance, posture and co-ordination; provides exercise and makes physiotherapy fun. "Her life is full of restrictions and frustrations, when she rides she delights in the activity and it gives us much pleasure to see that" - from one of our parents.
"Amongst my daily struggles with my condition riding is the one bright spot of my week" - from one of our riders.
We offer rides 6 days per week in small groups using 5 members of staff and over 100 volunteers. Our horses and ponies are carefully selected and have specialist training. All our staff are British Horse Society trained and then receive further specialist coaching to teach the disabled. They are all trained in first aid and child protection.
Our facilities include an indoor and an outdoor riding school, a mounting ramp and a hoist, a viewing area for spectators and disable friendly amenities.
