Ebony Horse Club has been operating in Brixton for 5 years, teaching over 1,100 children to ride. The club aims to help young people fulfill their potential and open their eyes to new opportunities. Several members discuss how learning to ride and being part of the club community has benefited them by building their confidence, independence, and life skills. Riding has helped some members pursue careers working with horses, while others say it kept them out of trouble and helped them succeed academically.

1. 8 NEWS brixtonblog.com 2016 NOVEMBERNOVEMBER 2016 brixtonblog.com COMMUNITY 8
Being with the horses used to be my only reason
to go to Ebony, but now I go to see my friends
Ebony Horse club is one of the
many things that make Brixton
unique and now it’s five years old
Ebony Horse Club has a lot to celebrate. In the
five years it has been open as a community
riding centre 1,100 children have learned to
ride there. Children with profound learning
needs have astounded both their teachers
and riding instructors with their independent
riding skills.
Letty Porter, who has been involved with
the Loughborough Junction club since 2008
says: “The club’s ethos has always been a lot
more than just learning to ride.
“We get to know our members over several
years. There’s definitely a bond of trust
that emerges and when young people have
disclosed issues that they are facing our youth
workers are there to offer support.
“We really want every young person to fulfil
their potential, but sometimes the odds can be
stacked against them.
“Ebony shows that there is another way
and can really help to open young eyes to
endless possibilities.”
Five long-term members of the club talked
about the impact that learning to ride has had
on their lives.
Khadijah, 15
Khadijah is at school working towards her
GCSEs. She has ambitions to study mechan-
ical engineering at Imperial College. She
lives in Peckham with her parents, brother
and sister.
“My love of horses started when I watched
the DreamWorks film, Spirit. Since then I
knew I wanted to be around horses. I started
to learn to ride when I was 11 at another
riding school, but it was really expensive and I
could only go once a month.
“Ebony provides so many new opportu-
nities. I was really excited to meet Clare
Balding and I’ve been on trips to Home
Farm in Crowborough where we got to fly
in a helicopter and I loved going to Wales.
Our Sunday lessons are really good fun as
I can forget about studying and socialise
with friends.”
Jordi, 16
Jordi started to ride at Ebony Horse Club from
the age of nine. Riding is a family affair – his
brother and sister learnt to ride with Ebony.
Jordi’s brother has taken on managerial
responsibilities at a riding centre in Lewisham
and his sister is studying for a BSc in Equine
Sports Performance at Plumpton College in
East Sussex.
“When the riding centre first opened, I
was excited because we were going to have
our own horses. I’ve developed a really
great bond with Joe, because he’s a young
horse. He has taught me a lot about patience
and perseverance.
“I think Ebony opened my eyes a lot earlier
to different people and different experiences.
It’s given me wider options to think about
while I’m studying for my A-levels. Although,
to be honest, getting into student debt is a
worry for me. I might take a gap year to work
out what I want to do.”
Cameron, 16
Cameron has recently begun a Level 3 appren-
ticeship in horse care in Richmond Park for
Operation Centaur. He leaves his home on the
Loughborough estate at 5.10am to get to work.
He is fondly remembered for hanging around
during the building of the riding centre and
asking daily when he could start learning
to ride.
“I remember when the Queen came to
visit with The Duchess of Cornwall – it was
mesmerising because you wouldn’t expect her
to visit a place like Loughborough Junction.
“Now that I’m an apprentice, I like coming
back to see people who have helped me get to
where I am today. They really helped me out
when I was struggling with school and they
pushed me through my GCSEs which I needed
to qualify for my apprenticeship. It’s nice to go
back where it all began.
“I’m definitely more positive and I have a lot
more confidence in myself – not just in riding,
in general.”
Natasha, 18
Natasha is studying for a BSc in equine
perform­ance and business management at
Writtle University College in Essex. She first
came to Ebony when she was 15 and often
describes how her confidence was at a low ebb.
“If Ebony wasn’t there for me then I would
certainly not be in halls at university. And, to
be honest, I don’t know if I would have even
gone through any sort of higher education,
since I didn’t believe I had the confidence to
study away from home.
“The best aspect about Ebony for me would
be that it’s not too forceful on the horsey part.
Ebony won’t be mad at you if you don’t know
how to do something and it won’t be irritated
if you just want to ride for fun or to just
escape your personal problems. Being with
the horses used to be my only reason to go to
Ebony, but now I go to see my friends – both
staff and members.”
Nahshon, 21
Nahshon is one of Ebony’s oldest members.
He also started to ride from the age of nine.
He is an inspiration and has overcome a lot to
be where he is today. He currently works at
Trent Park Equestrian Centre, one of the top
riding schools in London, where he is respon-
sible for helping to look after their 140 horses
and ponies. Nahshon came fourth in dressage
at the London Riding School’s competition.
“Learning to ride kept me out of trouble and
being at Ebony definitely helped me become
a better and more independent person, I was
encouraged to step up and take control of my
life. Without it, my life would have been very
different and I probably would have been
in prison. In the future, I always want to be
around horses.”
Natasha: Confidence builder
Jordi: Opened my eyes
Nahshon: More independent Khadijah: New opportunities
Cameron with heavy
horses Massey and Heath
at Hampton Court where
Operation Centaur uses
them to pull a wagon for
tourists on Sundays when
the weather is suitable