Ride High Charity
Ride High transforms the lives of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people aged 8-17 in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas. We effect lasting change in their attitude, self-confidence and life prospects so they become happy young people who are positively engaged in the outside world
All the children are referred to Ride High by childcare professionals so they can prioritise those most in need of help. Each faces overbearing challenges that make everyday life a struggle. Over 80% of the children they help have mental health challenges.
They may be in foster care, a young carer, a victim of abuse or neglect, many are very poor or non-school attenders when they join.
Over 120 children attend Ride High at the Ride High Equestrian Centre in Milton Keynes every week for two and a half hours for up to a year. They follow a programme of structured learning which includes riding and caring for the horses and associated educational and creative projects in the clubroom. Time spent with the horses promotes confidence, responsible behaviour, trust and pride. Clubroom activities teach life skills such as literacy, communication and teamwork.
Why horses? They enable Ride High to connect with the most disengaged children in a way other more traditional interventions such as counselling fail. Many of them won’t speak – but they’ll put their arms around a horse and whisper in its ear – and that’s where the transformation starts.
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Registered Charity No: 1138260