Stoke Lane Stables - Riding School

09/06/2026

Huge well done to Zoe Bell for successfully completing the adult Back to the Saddle course with delicious Rexy! Now confident hacking and cantering solo! So proud of you Zoe!

31/05/2026

Hard at work ‘sorting out the XC fences’

28/05/2026

Our fabulous Pony Fun Days, held today and on Monday, were once again fully booked this half term! Despite the extreme temperatures, everyone had an amazing time enjoying pony painting, arts and crafts, water-based activities to keep cool, giving the ponies frozen treats to help keep them comfortable, party games, and so much more — including poo picking and mucking out stables!

Our fab riders don’t just get their rosette for their day of pony loving, they also gain valuable, hands on experience of horsemanship!

A huge thank you to Eileen, Evie, Nyah and Kim for their expert instruction, and of course to our fantastic helpers, who we simply couldn’t do it all without!

27/05/2026

Our half term One Day Event was slightly hindered by hot weather but we managed to compete all our intermediate combinations on Tuesday (very, very) early in the morning and continued with our remaining novice combinations early this morning! So proud we managed to do it all and please that all the ponies were absolutely fab in the heat and the hard ground. We ‘watered’ the take off and landings of the jumps and still had a bit of dew to play with in the dressage arena! As well as administering cooling clay to the ponies’ legs after their work, multiple showers and delicious recovery mash shakes filled with yummy electrolytes courtesy of EmmaMia Cafe.

Massive well done to the following competitors!

Intermediate:

🥇 Isabel B and Fagin
🥈 Isabelle C and Del
🥉 Emily C and Cole

Novice:

🥇 Emily C and Blue
🥈 Hudson H and Poppy

26/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week 💚

When a young person was introduced to horses, everything began to shift...

"Unlike traditional therapeutic settings, the equine environment offered something fundamentally different—calm, non-judgemental connection, sensory regulation, and opportunities for experiential learning.

Working alongside miniature Shetland pony, Mouse, provided powerful therapeutic benefits. Mouse’s naturally aloof and independent nature created a unique dynamic. There was no expectation of immediate connection, which allowed the young person to approach at their own pace. This mirrored their own emotional state and reduced feelings of pressure or failure often experienced in human interactions.The repetitive, rhythmic motion of brushing helped regulate the young person’s nervous system, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of calm.

The horses’ sensitivity to human emotion also played a key role. As a prey animal, Mouse responded to changes in body language, energy, and mood. This gave the young person immediate, non-verbal feedback. Over time, they began to recognise how their own feelings influenced the pony’s behaviour, developing greater emotional awareness and self-regulation. For a young person who struggled to articulate their emotions, this experiential learning was far more accessible than direct questioning or conversation.

Traditional face-to-face communication can be overwhelming for young people experiencing anxiety or trauma. In this setting, interaction happened side by side, with the focus on the pony rather than on direct eye contact. This significantly lowered stress levels and allowed conversations to emerge naturally. As trust developed, they began to open up, sharing their worries and the barriers preventing them from moving forward."

This , we’re sharing a real life case study from Team Tutsham. Keep an eye out for the final part this Saturday. 👀

British Equestrian
Mental Health Foundation

26/05/2026

☀️🐴 Hot Weather Riding Reminder 🐴☀️

Riding in the sunshine is amazing — but staying safe and comfy is super important too! 😎

Before you hop in the saddle, please make sure you:

👕 Cover your shoulders
👖 Wear long trousers/leggings to cover your legs
👟 Wear closed-toe shoes or riding boots
❌ No sandals or flip flops please
🧴 Apply LOTS of sunscreen before your ride

The sun can be stronger than you think, so come prepared to stay cool, protected, and ready for fun! 🌞💦

👉 Check out our “What to Wear Riding” info here: https://www.smugglers-ec.co.uk/legal/terms/

Thank you & happy riding! 🐎

26/05/2026

☀️ IMPORTANT WEATHER UPDATE ☀️

Lessons are not on tomorrow afternoon due to the anticipated high temperatures 🐴
Messages have been sent to all riders, we will credit your ecpro accounts for you.

Thanks so much for understanding!

Our Helpers Passport Training will still be continuing 2pm-5pm as planned as there will be no riding.

SLS team xx

14/05/2026

12/05/2026

Amazing news — thanks to your incredible kindness, we have already raised £500 for Dandy’s recovery ❤️

Our sweet boy came through his eye removal operation successfully, and we are beyond grateful for every donation, share, message, and bit of support we’ve received so far.

Dandy is now resting comfortably, healing well, and being showered with love 🫏✨

Although the surgery was a success, there are still ongoing costs for medications, aftercare, specialist check-ups, and recovery support. Every donation continues to make a real difference in helping Dandy heal comfortably and safely.

If you’d like to support Dandy’s recovery journey, please scan the QR code on the poster to donate ❤️

Thank you for helping us reach £500 already — we honestly couldn’t do this without you all.

10/05/2026

Dandy Update;

He is recovering extremely well after surgery and responding very well to IV antibiotics. We are hoping he will be home tomorrow!