Who we are and what we do
Horse Rangers is a youth charity that helps young people thrive through experiences with horses.
See Horse Rangers in four minutes
What we do
Horse Rangers share a love of horses and the outdoors. We deliver four programmes that offer children and young people the chance to learn how to care for and ride horses, make new friends, have fun, and pick up key life skills on the way.
We aim to build confidence, resilience and a sense of responsibility, skills that extend well beyond the stables.
Our mission. Horse Rangers empowers, develops and encourages children and young people through hands-on outdoor activities with horses in a safe and supportive space, building confidence, a sense of responsibility, and lasting friendships; regardless of their physical, mental, or financial challenges.
Weekend programme
Hands-on learning with horses every weekend, with a structured badge system marking every step.
Riding for the Disabled
Specialist sessions for children, young people and adults with physical, neurological and learning disabilities.
Stable Minds
A five-week wellbeing programme of calm, non-riding sessions with horses, for young people facing challenges.
The Healing Horse
Therapeutic, ground-based sessions with horses, led by a qualified mental health practitioner.
Our values
Five values, and what each one means in practice.
Safety
Feel safe and welcome others
Creating safe and welcoming spaces where everyone is valued and feels a true sense of belonging.
Connection
Make new friends and work together
Building lasting friendships with each other and our horses through teamwork and shared experiences.
Compassion
Be kind and care for each other and our horses
Showing kindness in every action, guided by compassion and empathy, through caring for each other and our horses.
Growth
Be brave, try new things and believe in yourself
Nurturing growth through learning, where everyone can build confidence, independence, and responsibility, and where we invest in the lifelong potential of every individual.
Happiness
Be happy and bring joy to others
Working together, across generations, to bring joy through experiences with horses.
What horses can teach us
Ask a Ranger what they did at the weekend and you will hear about a pony. This is what is going on underneath.
Care for others
A horse has to be fed, groomed and checked daily, rain or shine! Rangers learn to notice when something is not right and understand the importance of caring for others, whether that is a horse, a friend or a member of their community. This teaches responsibility, empathy and commitment.
Learn new skills
Learn something new in every session! From tacking up to riding, Rangers work at their own pace and earn badges as they go. As their knowledge grows so does their confidence.
Feel calm and safe
The yard is outdoors and away from a screen. Horses set the pace and ask our Rangers to match it and be present. Grooming a horse is quiet work, and quiet work settles a busy mind.
Be brave
Horses are big, and standing beside one for the first time takes courage. Rangers learn to overcome their fears and give things a try, even when they feel nervous. Working with a large animal builds confidence, resilience and self-belief. The courage gained at the yard often helps young people tackle the challenges faced in their daily life.
Understand feelings
Horses read body language and respond to how we are feeling. A Ranger who arrives feeling unsettled often learns that staying calm and focused helps build trust and connection with their horse.
Have fun
Most importantly, time with horses is fun. There is fresh air, friendship, laughter and plenty of mud. Whether working towards badges, learning new skills or simply spending time with a favourite horse, Rangers build friendships, create memories and enjoy every moment at the yard.
What families notice
What all of that looks like at home and at the yard, in the words Rangers, parents and volunteers have left for us on Google.
Best place, best teachers, best horses, mind blowing Henry VIII stables! Wow!
Yazid, The best part of my week, every week, is when I'm here with these amazing people & horses.
Steph, Amazing center that truly cares for their kids and horses. Would definitely recommend !
Madeleine, It was an incredible experience. I'd barely touched a horse as we could never afford contact with them, but I was totally horse mad. I loved every aspect of my Saturdays -- riding, of course, but also mucking out, grooming, cleaning tack.
Sheila, Daughter been here 20 years...enough said! Really good grounding in horsemanship and teamwork!
Marian, Really lovely helpful staff great and friendly horses. Recommended highly
Ollie, Great atmosphere with lovely friendly people.
Jude, Great learning establishment
Claire, None of my family have ever learned to ride and so this is very new for me. During the week my school doesn't have any grass and so this is wonderful to come to Bushy Park to be in the open in a safe environment.
Participant, Youth Development It was really fun at first I was a little bit nervous but then I was really happy.
Participant, Stable Minds I was not part of the session but I can honestly say it was like a weight had been lifted off her and a switch had been flicked inside her. After the session, the prickly hostility was gone and I felt able to connect with my daughter again.
Parent, The Healing Horse
How horses teach us
Horses are at the heart of our work because they uniquely foster personal growth: they demand trust, mirror emotions, and offer a safe, non-judgemental setting to practice responsibility, empathy, and emotional regulation.
Horses mirror our emotions.
Horses respond to body language, tone and energy providing immediate and non-verbal feedback. This helps develop emotional regulation and self-awareness.
Horses are big and require trust.
Interactions with a horse demands courage, respect and responsibility. Learning with horses teaches safety, leadership and builds confidence.
Horses can be ridden.
Simulating our walking gate, horses engage our core muscles and balance. This creates a multisensory experience that improves motor skills and co-ordination.
Horses come in herds.
Interacting with a herd of horses requires reading subtle non-verbal cues, communicating clearly, patiently and with empathy. Skills that can be transferred to create positive relationships beyond the stables.
Horses don’t judge.
Unaware of our background and ability, horses provide a non-judgemental setting which creates a safe space for young people to experiment, make mistakes and learn resilience.
Our horses
23 horses and ponies live at the yard and are cared for by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, with valuable help from our Rangers.
Our team
Our programmes are delivered by a small team of staff and lots of amazing volunteers.
- and 17 more people on the Meet the team page
