Washington Riding Centre

31/08/2026

👻 Halloween Activities 👻

Bookings go LIVE later this week for our October Half Term Halloween fun! 🐴🎃

Before we finalise the timetable, tell us what you’d like to join in with :

1️⃣ Pony Care Day 🎃
2️⃣ Beginner Halloween Games 👻
3️⃣ Novice Halloween Games 🎃
4️⃣ Halloween Fancy Dress Party 🧙‍♀️
5️⃣ Halloween Hobby Horse 🐎

Comment with your number(s) AND whether DAYTIME or EVENING would suit you best.
(Pony Care Day is daytime only.)

Let us know below! 👇🎃

28/08/2026

One of our lovely liveries, Keira, is taking on the Great North Run in support of the centre! 🏃‍♀️ 💚

Any contribution towards Keira’s fundraising would be hugely appreciated and will help support the centre.

Thank you so much, Keira, for choosing to support us. We’re incredibly grateful and wish you the very best of luck with your training and for the big day!

Go smash it 💪🏅

Want to join Keira in making a difference? She’s doing her first Great North Run to … Jayne McGurk needs your support for Washington Riding for the Disabled

26/08/2026

🐴 COULD YOUR SCHOOL BENEFIT FROM THERAPY THROUGH HORSES? 🐴

We have a rare Wednesday session available for a school at Washington Riding Centre for the September–October term 2026

For the children who come to us, these sessions are about so much more than learning to ride.
Through working with our horses, children can develop core strength, balance and coordination, but we also see something just as important:

✨ Confidence grows
✨ Smiles get bigger
✨ Children feel included
✨ They experience achievement and pride
✨ And they leave us feeling happy, valued and capable.

We currently work with four SEN/SEND schools, using therapy through horses and riding sessions to give children an experience where they can develop physically and emotionally in an environment where every achievement matters.
We would love to offer our available Wednesday session to another school whose children could benefit.

🏫 Are you a teacher, SENCO, school leader or parent?
Please get in touch.

And if you know someone working within a SEN/SEND school, please tag them or share this post with them. One share could help this opportunity reach exactly the right children. 💚

Email : [email protected]

25/08/2026

Rider of the month for July 💚 🐴

“I started riding at 40, when my husband gave me riding lessons as a Christmas gift. My very first lesson was on 31st December, I knew straight away that it was the beginning of something much bigger.

I soon started volunteering alongside my regular weekly lessons and fell in love not only with the horses, each with their own unique personality and something new to teach me , but also with the incredible people.

The yard staff and coaches are always so attentive to the needs of both horses and riders. The care, kindness and passion at Washington are truly priceless.

Being part of this community, and having the opportunity to give something back, is incredibly rewarding. I think the fact that so many people willingly give their time and their heart says everything about just how special this centre is.

For me, the stables have become so much more than a place to ride. They’re my place of peace, connection and healing. After a stressful and busy day at work, being there helps me slow down, breathe and simply be.”

🐴 A beautiful reminder that sometimes the best gifts lead us somewhere we never expected. 💚

20/08/2026

🏆 HOBBY HORSE SUMMER LEAGUE FINAL! 🏆

Come and join us for a fantastic afternoon of Hobby Horse fun 🐴

🐴 Fun & exciting games.
🏆 Summer League Points Winners announced.
🎀 Special rosettes for 1st–6th place.
🌟 A Well Done rosette for everyone taking part.
📅 Tuesday 1st September
⏰ 12.30–2.30pm

Come along, have fun and celebrate a brilliant summer of Hobby Horse fun 💚

Book under EVENTS.
Washingtonridingcentre.org

Custom Design Rosettes

18/08/2026

🧚‍♀️ Tut tut… naughty gnomes causing havoc in the fairy garden! 🍄

Or were they framed…? 👀

Splash decided the fence needed a new doorway and, of course, Dollar & friends followed...

Straight into the sensory garden for a spot of unscheduled gardening. 🌸🌿🤣

The gnomes deny everything....

Dollar is unavailable for comment… his mouth is full of evidence. 🌱😂

Last chance to book onto tomorrow's pony care day 🦄

Please note: The Pony Care Day will only appear as available to book if your rider grading matches the required level.

Washingtonridingcentre.org

17/08/2026

⭐ BHS MOMENTS THAT MATTER CAMPAIGN ⭐

We’re so excited to be taking part in the British Horse Society Moments That Matter competition🐴 💚

We’ve created a reel filled with some of the moments that make our centre such a special place, and we’d love your support.

For us, riding is about so much more than what happens in the saddle. It’s the nervous rider who suddenly finds their confidence. The huge smile after mastering something they’ve been working towards for weeks. The friendships made around the yard, the muddy boots, the pony cuddles, the laughter and the encouragement from everyone watching from the sidelines. 🥰

Sometimes it’s the smallest moments that end up meaning the most.

Our reel is a little snapshot of those memories and of the wonderful riders, ponies, families and supporters who make our centre what it is. 💚

If you’d like to help us, please LIKE , every like counts towards our entry to win a prize from the BHS.⭐

You can leave us a comment telling us your favourite memory from the centre. We’d love to hear them.

Thank you to everyone who rides with us, supports us, helps out and cheers our riders on. You’re all part of the moments that matter. 🐴 💚

17/08/2026

Congratulations, Lesley 👏

We’re incredibly proud of Lesley, who recently achieved a fantastic milestone during her riding session - completing a course of poles !🐎

Lesley has been part of our centre for many years and is always a joy to welcome each week. She loves her riding sessions, particularly spending time with two of her favourites, Delilah and Maggie. 🐴

Lesley is registered blind and has four limb cerebral palsy, but she continues to show just how much can be achieved with determination, confidence and a love of riding.

Watching Lesley work towards her goals, grow in confidence and enjoy her time in the saddle is what makes moments like this so special.

Keep bringing those smiles and that wonderful positivity every week. ✨

13/08/2026

🐴 Helping children connect, grow and shine , in and out of the saddle.

Over the past two years, we’ve been proud to build relationships with some wonderful charities and community groups, including the The Sensory Place OPEN PAGE

Thanks to funding from Sport England, we’ve been able to provide riding and stable management sessions, giving children opportunities to build confidence, learn new skills and, most importantly, have fun.

As an independent registered charity, and proud members of both the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and the British Horse Society (BHS), we receive no guaranteed income and rely entirely on the money we raise ourselves. With the rising costs of keeping our horses healthy and well cared for, alongside staff wages, utilities, maintenance and the day to day running of the centre, every contribution makes a genuine difference.

We’re therefore looking for individuals and organisations who might be able to sponsor, fund or contribute towards the following projects:

🌿 Sensory garden development
♿ Development of accessible areas
🐴 Essential equipment
Could you or your business help make one of these projects happen?

Please get in touch , or share this post to help us reach someone who can. 💚
Contact Lorna at : [email protected]

Here are a few lovely shots from our recent sessions with The Sensory Place. 🐴

Custom Design Rosettes
Sport England

11/08/2026

Welcome Autumn to the team! 🍂

Autumn has had a clear strangles test, so she has happily moved into her stable, where she can see her new friends nearby. 🐴💕

While she is in her settling in and assessment period, she won’t be taking part in lessons just yet. But please feel free to say hello and give her a warm welcome when you see her! 🍁