The Riding A Dream Academy
Supporting young people from diverse ethnic communities into horse racing
Horse racing for All
At the Riding A Dream Academy, we’re passionate about supporting young people from diverse communities, underprivileged backgrounds and urban equestrian centres to get involved in British horse racing. As part of the British Racing School, a centre of racing excellence in Newmarket, we run a range of riding-based programmes for young people aged 14-16, funded by The Racing Foundation, regardless of whether they have any experience or not.
Find out about our brilliant programmes below.
The Academy was established in 2021 after Khadijah Mellah became the first British Muslim woman to win a race when landing the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood racecourse. Funded by the Racing Foundation, we have supported hundreds of young people from diverse ethnic communities, disadvantaged backgrounds and urban equestrian centres to experience the joy of working with horses and find out about the different riding-based careers for them in the sport. Our aims are to
- Create a lasting legacy that allows other young people from diverse ethnic communities, disadvantaged backgrounds and urban equestrian centres to get involved in racing
- Nurture and identify diverse talent and provide opportunities for personal growth and development for young people from these groups within the racing industry.
- Improve diversity and inclusion, make racing more relevant and demonstrate how the sport is a force for good, helping to improve racing’s reputation in wider society.
- Develop new pathways into the sport which dovetail with existing initiatives and support participants to go onto pursue a career in racing.
We run three riding-based programmes: Taster Days; Residential Weeks and a year-long Scholarship programme.
Our Taster Days give young people the chance to ride for the first time; look after a pony, try out their jockey position on a simulator and find out about the different careers in racing.
We take bookings from schools and youth charities to bring 10 young people aged 14-16 to the British Racing School. unfortunately we do not take bookings from individuals. Our current dates are:
- Monday 10th – Friday 14th February
- Monday 10th – Friday 14th March
To book* please email Samantha.cunningham@brs.org.uk
* a weight limit of 64kg applies for horse welfare reasons
The Residential Weeks cater for both young people with some experience of riding and working with horses and complete beginners who come up through our Taster Day programme. During the weeks, students stay at the British Racing School and ride each day, hone their horse handling and stable management skills, work on their fitness and jockey position and get to experience different elements of the racing industry through trips to the races, gallops, a stud farm and equine hospital. The course is free to attend but we do insist that everyone come ready to work hard and have fun!
Our next Residential Week will take place 17th – 21st February 2025. You can apply by clicking here.
“The past year the Riding A Dream Academy has been such an incredible experience, it’s been life-changing and it’s changed every single aspect of my life for the better.” Scholarship student.
The Scholarship is our most prestigious and intensive course and runs over the course of a year, starting with a Residential Week and then followed by ten monthly weekend sessions at the British Racing School. During the course, students are supported to ride a range of different racehorse and graduate to different apparatus at the School from the indoor school, to outdoor menage and the round canter. We also provide a well rounded overview of the sport with trips to point to point; farriers, racing yards, sales houses and top race meetings. We also try to support work experience where we can.
Applications for the Scholarship are currently closed.