Think Like a Pony
Empowering Children Through Horsemanship
Think Like a Pony
Empowering Children Through Horsemanship
We are the world’s first horsemanship programme for children and have spent over two decades developing our online programme and teaching resources, with every aspect of learning tailored to the safety and empowerment of the child. Our holistic riding school, online Club and therapeutic programmes educate children in horsemanship and riding in a way that excels skill, fosters positive relationship building between pony and child, and enhances horse training and welfare. The skills developed through our programmes are transferable, promoting both personal growth and positive youth development. These skills serve young people well in their daily lives and as they progress toward becoming confident, competent young equestrians. Our approach is backed by a robust syllabus - the Think Like a Pony Club. The Club was launched in 2011 and is now international, with members in the UK, USA, throughout Europe and New Zealand. We’re ran by a group of highly trained and qualified horsemanship instructors, with over 150 years+ of equestrian and teaching experience within the team.
Our Key Services Include:
"We felt disconnected at our local riding school, where routine overshadowed building bonds with the ponies. Think Like a Pony changed that, giving my children a strong foundation in riding, boosting their confidence, and helping them form a real connection with the ponies that extends to all areas of their lives."
"Think Like a Pony has transformed our family and our pony. With the Club's online resources, we've achieved goals we never thought possible. My children have flourished, and our pony is now more responsive, relaxed, and confident. We feel deeply connected to a supportive community that has truly improved our horsemanship."
"Think Like a Pony has helped my child excel in riding and horsemanship while also building life skills like patience, empathy, and responsibility. The process of building trust with the ponies has boosted their confidence, problem-solving, and communication, positively impacting school, friendships, and everyday life."
The mental, emotional and physical well-being of both child and pony are at the heart of our holistic riding school in Leeds, as well as our online Club. Our educational approach and significant investment in the training of our ponies means that we have incredibly high safety standards and high levels of horse welfare. Our method of teaching children fosters empathy, understanding and communication with the horse. This enables young people to excel as horse riders and handlers, at the same time as developing important life skills.
Our Youth Development Programme changes the lives of some of the most at-risk children in our community. Through learning to build a relationship with a pony, children learn strategies that empower them to take control of their physical, mental and emotional state. This in turn helps them to build stronger relationships, re-engage with learning and see a future for themselves. The programme is suitable for any child with social, emotional, or mental heath difficulties.
The program is delivered as a four-week course for carers, where they learn new strategies to become more effective in their emotional and physical responses to the young people in their lives. The course illustrates how subtle but significant shifts in your mental and emotional state can impact a pony, as well as other relationships in your life. This provides carers with specific strategies to implement at home, enabling them to deal with difficult situations that may arise day to day.
A programme that fosters a culture of mutual respect and growth, where both humans and horses can thrive together. Our volunteer programme is open to adults and young people aged 14 and over. Our volunteers are part of a close-knit, supportive team, working alongside experienced staff who provide guidance and supervision. In addition to hands-on training, volunteers have access to a wealth of resources through our online Club where volunteers can earn badges to mark their progress and build their knowledge as they develop horsemanship skills. Through shared feedback and collaboration, we create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to grow as they emerse themselves in the Think Like a Pony philosophy.
The Club is a vibrant online community dedicated to families who are passionate about learning horsemanship. It offers an extensive library of interactive resources, including video lessons, E-books, and assessments, designed to support both beginners and more experienced students. As children progress through their horsemanship journey, they earn badges to mark their achievements, making learning both educational and rewarding. With access to direct instructor feedback, each student receives personalized guidance, ensuring steady progress at every step. The Club’s engaging, structured approach allows students to unlock new levels of learning with each completed lesson, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivation throughout their horsemanship experience.