The facility based at Suffolk Rural college also celebrates two decades of success with new horses and improved facilities totalling over £55k
An equine centre that celebrated their 20th anniversary earlier this year got a letter from HRH The Princess Royal congratulating them on reaching this landmark.
The facility that is based at Suffolk New College’s Suffolk Rural Campus was officially opened in April 2006 by The Princess Royal.
Two decades on, a letter arrived stating: ‘the Princess Royal was pleased to learn that since opening 20 years ago, the campus has continued to support thousands of learners and to develop important links with businesses and the local community through equine events’.
In addition to the boost from Buckingham Palace, the equine team has been further bolstered thanks to the arrival of two new horses who will permanently reside on the yard.
The duo named George and River have been settling in well and are keen to meet the new intake of students who will be starting programmes at the college this September.
Now that George and River have settled in, they will also get to enjoy using the new field shelters to help keep them keep cool in the paddocks when it is warm, and dry when it is raining.
Alex Hammond is Head of Animal and Equine Studies at Suffolk Rural. She said: “It’s exciting to receive a letter from the palace and HRH. It helps us reflect nicely on what we have achieved as a team with the learners and is nice recognition from Princess Anne.”
“We are delighted to welcome George and River to the college. They join Quinn, who we purchased in 2024, both have great temperaments and will be great additions to the equine yard”.
“Over the summer the college has also invested in field shelters as welfare is a key priority for us as a college and within the Equine department. We have a clear vision for development over the next five-years, and are grateful for the support that the college has given to move this forward”
“We are one of the few further education colleges in the region that offer equine courses and have a strong curriculum offer across Levels 1, 2 and 3, whilst also hosting a range of external events through the commercial hire of the facilities. Our learners experience a diverse range of industry guest speakers, trips and engagements and we are really proud of the high grades that our Level 2 and Level 3 learners achieved this summer. We are currently enrolling our next cohorts of learners and look forward to welcoming them, along with our returning learners, at the start of September.”
One of the staff at the college is Rude Morris who is a former student who continues to be an ambassador for the equine centre.
He said: “It’s a really positive place to learn, we recently hosted a 20th anniversary celebration event and former students came to see us from all over the UK. Some had even worked abroad. This place has a special place in my heart. It’s positive to see the new investment and see the centre grow over the years. I loved it so much as a student, I came back as a member of staff – so I think that says a lot about how I (and others) feel about this place.”
People can still enrol via this website www.suffolk.ac.uk or by coming to the college based in the village of Otley.