Matt and Marie teach schoolkids

By Justine Thompson

General news

17 March 2009 11:02

Lucky Welsh school children are getting riding lessons from the very best – from top international eventers Matt and Marie Ryan.

The children from Monmouth Comprehensive School are receiving the lessons thanks to an initiative aimed at involving secondary school children in physical education.

The riding academy is being run in conjunction with Redbrook Equestrian Centre, and is believed to be the first such initiative of its kind. As well as riding the children also receive lessons in horse management from guest speakers.

Coming on board as the academy’s Consultant Coaches, Matt and Marie Ryan are helping to develop the academy by providing coaching, lectures and visits to their yard to watch them train, along with the opportunity to meet their sponsors and develop connections.

Matt Ryan is a world class event rider who has, among other achievements, won three Olympic Gold Medals riding for the Australian Eventing Team in Barcelona and Sydney. Marie is an international event rider competing at 3* and 4* level at Badminton and Burghley. They now live and compete from their yard near Abergavenny.

Matt Ryan said: “We’re delighted to support this exciting initiative. We love living and working in Monmouthshire and this gives us the opportunity to give something back to the community through our sport.”

Sue Pritchard, parent of three children at the school who are all keen riders, initiated and runs the academy with Hayley Howells at Redbrook.

She said: “Our aim here was to provide a programme equally exciting and beneficial, both for those keen to get started in riding and for those who are already training and competing. With the lessons at Redbrook and coaching with truly World Class riders Matt and Marie we think we have achieved that.”