What if riding schools and equestrian centres are about far more than simply teaching people how to ride?

In this episode of the Animalweb Podcast, Helen Stock is joined by Andrew Stennett, founder of Grove House Stables and I-Pegasus CIC, and British Horse Society Generalist Trustee for Approved Centres, to explore the life-changing role horses can play in education, mental health and community wellbeing.

Andrew reflects on more than 40 years in the equestrian industry, beginning with one horse, one pony and a very muddy field before developing Grove House Stables into an award-winning riding centre.

Drawing on his own experiences of dyslexia, dyspraxia, bullying and feeling misunderstood at school, Andrew explains how horses gave him confidence, direction and somewhere he could thrive.

But his story is about far more than overcoming personal challenges.

Andrew shares how his experiences inspired him to create opportunities for young people who struggle within mainstream education, including those experiencing poor mental health, exclusion and a loss of confidence in the education system.

Through I-Pegasus CIC and programmes such as Changing Lives Through Horses, Andrew has seen first-hand how spending time with horses can help people build resilience, develop practical skills and begin to believe in themselves again.

Helen and Andrew also discuss the mounting pressures facing riding schools, livery yards and equestrian centres. From rising costs and limited access to land to extreme weather, staffing pressures and the challenge of keeping horses and businesses sustainable, many centres are being asked to deliver more while managing increasingly difficult circumstances.

Andrew argues that riding schools should be recognised not only as equestrian businesses but as equine health and wellbeing centres that contribute considerable social and economic value to their local communities.

Throughout the episode, you’ll discover:

• How Andrew established a riding school with one horse, one pony and a muddy field

• Why his experiences of dyslexia and dyspraxia shaped his approach to horses and education

• How horses can support confidence, resilience and personal development

• Why some young people thrive in equine and outdoor learning environments

• How I-Pegasus CIC helps provide greater access to horses

• The pressures currently facing riding schools, livery yards and equestrian centres

• Why land availability, rising costs and climate change are becoming major concerns

• The importance of investing in yourself and asking others for help

• Why riding centres should be recognised for their wider community value

• What the equestrian industry can achieve by working together and sharing ideas

Most importantly, you’ll hear why Andrew believes access to horses must be protected for future generations and why equestrian centres have such an important part to play within their communities.

Whether you own or manage a riding school, run a livery yard, work within the equestrian industry or have experienced the difference horses can make to someone’s life, this episode offers an honest, uplifting and thought-provoking conversation about resilience, opportunity and the future of equestrian centres.

Listen now and discover why a riding school can be so much more than a place where people learn to ride.

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What if the weeds, mud and struggling grass in your paddocks aren’t simply problems to eliminate—but signs that your land is trying to tell you something?

In this episode of the Animalweb Podcast, Izzy Taylor from the Animalweb team is joined by environmental consultant and equine land management expert Laura Hobbs to explore how horse owners can create healthier, more resilient land by working with nature rather than constantly fighting against it.

From managing grazing on limited acreage to dealing with mud, weeds, flooding and increasingly unpredictable weather, Laura explains why many of the challenges horse owners face above ground begin with what is happening beneath the surface.

But improving your paddocks doesn’t necessarily mean spending a fortune on fertiliser, reseeding or expensive machinery.

Laura shares a practical and refreshingly different approach to land management, helping horse owners understand what their soil and plants are revealing, make better use of the resources already available and introduce realistic changes that could benefit their horses, their land and their finances.

Throughout the episode, you’ll discover why traditional agricultural advice may not always be appropriate for equestrian land, how continuous grazing can affect soil health and why many plants commonly dismissed as weeds may actually be carrying out valuable work.

Whether you manage several acres or are trying to make the most of a small paddock, this episode offers practical ideas and a fascinating new perspective on one of your most valuable resources.

In this episode you’ll discover:

• What the plants growing in your paddock could be telling you

• Why traditional agricultural approaches may not always suit horses

• How overgrazing affects soil, forage production and land resilience

• Why mud, flooding and summer drought may be more closely connected than we realise

• Whether fertilising, reseeding and soil testing are always necessary

• How to manage grazing more effectively on limited acreage

• Why some weeds could be helping your land recover

• Simple and inexpensive ways to improve your paddocks

• How healthier land can support healthier horses and reduce long-term costs

Most importantly, you’ll hear how changing the way you look at your paddocks could help you move away from repeatedly reacting to problems and towards creating a more sustainable system for both your horses and your land.

If you own horses, manage a yard or are responsible for paddocks and pasture, this episode is packed with practical advice, fresh thinking and expert insight that could completely change the way you view the ground beneath your horses’ feet.

Listen now and discover what your paddock may have been trying to tell you all along.

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Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

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What happens when some of the equestrian industry's most experienced voices come together with one shared goal: helping yard owners build stronger, more sustainable businesses?

In this special episode of Stable Science, Helen Stock is joined by YardWise co-founders Amanda Watson and Cheryl Johns to lift the lid on YardWise 2026—the unique event designed specifically for livery yards, riding schools, equestrian centres, and yard managers.

Following the incredible success of last year's event, YardWise returns bigger than ever, expanding to two days packed with expert guidance, practical solutions, welfare-focused insights, business support, and invaluable networking opportunities.

But this isn't another conference where you're simply talked at.

YardWise is built around real conversations, real challenges, and real solutions. Throughout this episode, you'll discover why so many attendees described last year's event as transformative, how the expert roundtable sessions give direct access to leading specialists, and why collaboration and community are becoming essential tools for future-proofing equestrian businesses.

Whether you're struggling with rising costs, staff management, horse welfare, compliance, diversification, pasture management, marketing, contracts, risk management, or simply trying to make your business more sustainable, this episode provides a fascinating insight into the topics shaping the future of the industry.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why YardWise has expanded to two days for 2026

• The biggest challenges currently facing equestrian businesses

• How welfare and business success go hand in hand

• Why networking with fellow yard owners can be game-changing

• What makes the YardWise expert roundtables so unique

• The industry-leading speakers and specialists attending this year

• Practical ways to improve efficiency, profitability, and long-term sustainability

• How one piece of advice could transform the way you run your yard

Most importantly, you'll hear why so many business owners left last year's event feeling inspired, supported, and armed with actionable ideas they could implement immediately.

If you're involved in running, managing, supporting, or developing an equestrian business, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and expert knowledge that could make a real difference to your future success.

Listen now and discover why YardWise is quickly becoming one of the most valuable events in the equestrian business calendar.

Find out about YardWise at https://yardwise.co.uk/

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Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

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