Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited the Newmarket Pony Academy, part of the British Racing School, today (Wednesday 22 October) to see first-hand the Academy’s work with local young people.

The Princess Royal had the opportunity to meet pupils from The Pines Primary School in Bury St Edmunds who were taking part in the Newmarket Pony Academy’s primary school programme which mixes equine care with aspects of the curriculum and aims to develop key skills, such as confidence, resilience and overall engagement in learning.

Set up in 2021, The Newmarket Pony Academy is a community project aimed at 8–14-year-olds which provides access to horses and ponies. It also runs after-school, weekend and holiday clubs for local young people who have been referred by teachers and social workers, and alternative provisions for children struggling with mainstream education. 

As well as meeting school pupils, The Princess Royal was also introduced to members of the Newmarket Pony Academy team, Penny Taylor of Godolphin who was instrumental in setting up the Academy in 2021, and students taking part in the British Racing School’s foundation course.

The Princess Royal meets a foundation course student.

Equine royalty

During a tour of the facilities, The Princess Royal met Schematic, a retired racehorse owned by His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen. Schematic is currently part of the 70 strong team racehorses working at the British Racing School and helping to teach young people to ride.

The Princess Royal is patron of several racing and equestrian charities including the Injured Jockeys’ Fund, the Amateur Jockeys Association of Great Britain and the Racehorse Owners Association, in addition to British Horse Society and World Horse Welfare.

“We were incredibly honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to the Newmarket Pony Academy today,” said Andrew Braithwaite, chief executive of the British Racing School.

“As someone who fully appreciates the power of horses and ponies as an equestrian and Olympian, it was wonderful to be able to show how the ways in which the Academy is supporting young people in the community and making riding and working with ponies accessible and exciting. 

“The Princess Royal’s visit shines a powerful spotlight on how horses can positively impact young people’s well-being, confidence, and social development and introduce them to the racing industry.”

The Newmarket Pony Academy currently actively works with 27 local schools and hosts annual charity days in collaboration with Autism in Racing, East Anglia Children’s Hospice, Box4Kids and offers a HAF (Holiday Activity and Food Programme) throughout the school holidays. 

Images © The British Racing School.

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