Jesse’s Confidence Journey

When Jesse arrived at Eat Sleep Ride for his very first horse riding session, he was a little nervous. It was his dream to ride a horse, but he’d never had the chance before.

From the moment he met Ava, our young riding coach, Jesse began to relax. Ava’s gentle, encouraging approach — a hallmark of our equine-assisted learning programme — helped him feel safe and supported. Within the hour, he had built up the confidence to ride independently, smiling from ear to ear.

Jesse’s mum later told us:

"You were all so kind and I honestly thought we would be leaving without him feeling confident enough to ride a horse… Ava was AMAZING. He instantly felt comfortable with her, and it was magical to watch. He can’t wait to come back and bring his brother Joshua too."

At our community riding school, moments like this happen every week. Through horse riding for children and confidence-building activities, we help young people of all abilities develop resilience, self-belief, and a lifelong love of learning.

We can’t wait to welcome Jesse and Joshua back for their next ride.