> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.curiousequestrian.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Rethinking the Traditional Riding School: How Think Like A Pony is Transforming Young Lives - URL: https://www.curiousequestrian.co.uk/rethinking-the-traditional-riding-school/ - Published: 2025-02-16T19:07:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-17T15:33:11.000Z - Description: Could this Yorkshire riding school's approach transform how we teach young riders? - Author: Theresa - Tags: Equine therapy, riding schools The memory still brings a smile to my face: a crisp Yorkshire morning, the wind gusting across the hills, and an atmosphere of calm that seemed to emanate from every corner of the facility. When Anna Louise first interviewed Lynn Henry for our podcast last year, both of us found ourselves reflecting on our own early riding school experiences. Those conversations sparked our curiosity - could there be a different way to introduce children to horsemanship? Armed with cameras and microphones, we set out to discover how Think Like A Pony is reimagining the traditional riding school model. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/b5/1db5b3be-a15a-4351-b201-05168104ced3/content/images/2026/01/lsmbq5reez4.jpg) What we found was remarkable. In an era when many equestrian centers buzz with competitive energy and rushed lessons, Think Like A Pony offers something different. ## **A Comprehensive Approach** ***"If you can make a pony feel calm and happy, then you can make anybody feel calm and happy,"*** While many riding schools focus solely on technical skills or competitions, Think Like A Pony recognizes that true horsemanship requires both precise technique and deep understanding. Students learn correct riding methods alongside the crucial skills of reading equine body language, developing clear communication, and building genuine connections with their mounts. "If you can make a pony feel calm and happy, then you can make anybody feel calm and happy," explains Henry. This philosophy enhances riding instruction, creating riders who understand both the 'how' and 'why' of proper horsemanship. ## **Excellence Through Understanding** The center's approach to teaching riding skills is methodical and thorough. Students learn the importance of correct position, clear aids, and proper technique. However, they also discover how their own emotional state and body language affect their horse's responsiveness. This comprehensive understanding allows them to achieve better results through cooperation rather than force. During a demonstration, Henry explains, "When I use my voice, my voice has to bring the same authority, that same connection, that same calmness." She emphasizes the importance of being "grounded and powerful" while maintaining softness. ***self-confidence, the ability to stop, to pause, to think, to make plans.*** ## **Transforming Young Lives** Jo Backhouse, who works in special educational needs safeguarding, has been bringing students to Think Like A Pony for seven years. She's witnessed remarkable transformations in children struggling with various challenges, from ADHD to selective mutism. The center's structured approach to both riding and horsemanship provides these children with clear frameworks for success. "The list is endless," Backhouse says of the benefits she's observed. "The big one is confidence, self-confidence, the ability to stop, to pause, to think, to make plans." These skills enhance not only their riding but their overall development. ## **Building Skills Through Connection** At the heart of Think Like A Pony's approach lies a fundamental truth: respect for self, respect for others, and taking responsibility for one's own actions. This ethos shapes every aspect of their programs, from basic handling to advanced riding skills. Students learn practical strategies that enhance both their horsemanship and personal development: - Controlled breathing techniques that calm both rider and horse - Conscious body language that communicates clear intentions - Voice control that conveys confidence and authority - Understanding of equine communication and herd dynamics The center's impact is powerfully illustrated through students like Eva, who discovered not just horsemanship skills but a deeper sense of purpose through working with horses. By learning how ponies communicate and form relationships, students develop invaluable skills that extend far beyond the arena. ## **Comprehensive Programs** Think Like A Pony's structured approach includes: - [Holistic riding school](https://substack.com/redirect/d18cbb61-ac32-4da3-b2b1-9426a92199c3?j=eyJ1IjoiMnFtMjhnIn0.Vc8uZi3bKWB8H6ko7sX41aOcUcTaL1q7dsGdnyTDRII&ref=curiousequestrian.co.uk) programs combining technical excellence with emotional intelligence - [Youth development initiatives](https://substack.com/redirect/4ed0e2fd-47aa-4cc4-b7ae-487937ec8690?j=eyJ1IjoiMnFtMjhnIn0.Vc8uZi3bKWB8H6ko7sX41aOcUcTaL1q7dsGdnyTDRII&ref=curiousequestrian.co.uk) for personal growth through horsemanship - [Empowered Parenting courses](https://substack.com/redirect/0e12b96b-f0ac-4251-bf80-8338538ccbd3?j=eyJ1IjoiMnFtMjhnIn0.Vc8uZi3bKWB8H6ko7sX41aOcUcTaL1q7dsGdnyTDRII&ref=curiousequestrian.co.uk) that extend equine-learned skills to family dynamics - [Online horsemanship Club](https://substack.com/redirect/0cc97797-1528-44fe-956f-0bc10251629d?j=eyJ1IjoiMnFtMjhnIn0.Vc8uZi3bKWB8H6ko7sX41aOcUcTaL1q7dsGdnyTDRII&ref=curiousequestrian.co.uk) connecting children nationwide - Specialized support for vulnerable children referred through Leeds City Council, schools, and NHS mental health services ***This approach doesn't just produce better riders - it helps develop more emotionally intelligent, responsible young people*** ## **Setting New Standards** Think Like A Pony demonstrates how riding schools can nurture deeper understanding. Through their nationwide network of freelance instructors and online resources, they're spreading this holistic approach beyond their Leeds headquarters. By teaching children to understand how ponies think, communicate, and form relationships, they create an environment where personal growth and riding skills develop naturally together. This approach doesn't just produce better riders - it helps develop more emotionally intelligent, responsible young people. Watching the children work with their ponies that morning, I couldn't help but wish such a place had existed when I was learning to ride. Think Like A Pony shows us what's possible when we combine riding instruction with genuine understanding - creating spaces where both children and ponies can truly flourish. Below is the full podcast episode with Lynn. A McCaffrey Productions Film for Curious Equestrian **Producer** \- Theresa McCaffrey **Presenter** \- Anna Louise Claydon **Videography** – Adam Rhodes *Special Thanks To Think Like a Pony CIC for welcoming us to their facility in Leeds, Yorkshire UK* **Featured Participants** Jo Backhouse - Special Educational Needs Safeguarding Eva & Eva's Mum Caitlin & Millie...