Our Horses
Welcome to our stables!
Meet the heart and soul of our riding centre – our wonderful team of horses. Each one is a valued member of the family, bringing their unique personality, skills, and charm to make your riding experience truly special. From trusted confidence-givers perfect for beginners and nervous riders, to spirited partners for advanced hacks and jumping, our diverse herd is carefully chosen and loved. Get to know the equine stars who are ready to share the beautiful countryside with you.
"Benny was absolutely fab, thank you very much…”
“Hippo was a great pony and very cute – Izzy (6) had a lovely time. Great walk over the forest. Perfect introduction for a beginner.”
BENNY
13hh ‘quite old’ dark bay gelding
Our oldest horse, now in his very late 20's! Benny is no longer used for riding but is very happy and appreciates plenty of human tlc. Benny has been an extraordinary pony over so many years and has given so many of our junior riders and very small adult riders great riding experiences. He’s always been so keen and quite feisty to ride and still has that zest for life.
TARA
14.1hh 18yo black mare
Tara is jet black mare, a real gem from Duckhurst Farm. She is a very beautiful mare for riders of all abilities and one of the very few AFRC horses that will do a really nice lesson. A very talented jumper, she has competed up to 90cm and loves xc too. Tara is now probably running our herd with her friend Brendon and has a very strong personality. I don’t know how she does it but she always keeps herself immaculate and in great condition. She is quite the character and if she doesn’t feel like coming in one day or can sense people are short of time, she will make sure she is difficult to catch! Overall though, Tara has been an exceptional horse for the AFRC for many years now.
BERTIE
14.3hh 16yo piebald gelding
Bertie is a very attractive 14'3 gelding, also from Duckhurst Farm. Always on the portly side but built like a brick wall, he is our main weight carrier with a limit of 84 kgs. He is absolutely super safe for riders of all abilities and great in every way, ridden or on the ground. He can be lazy at times, especially when he knows he is ridden by novice riders. He is known to plant himself at the bottom of the drive and refuse to move. He also finds it very amusing to lay down grunting as if he is shattered and exhausted shortly after we tack him up to start the day.
MARLEY
14.3hh 17yo dark bay gelding
Marley is a handsome dark bay gelding also from Duckhurst Farm He has an unbelievable work ethic. One of the 2 horses (along with Gertie) used for all new clients at the AFRC. Extremely intelligent, Marley has this unique ability to sense what riders are about to do. When clients learn how to trot on Marley, if they are about to lose their balance which is very normal, Marley will sense it and come back to walk gently before the rider gets into trouble. He is the same in canter. Marley does not like living in the herd so he goes out with his companion, Chumley.
GERTIE
14.3hh 17yo skewbald mare
Gertie is a very sweet, safe and talented skewbald mare. Yet another gem from Duckhurst Farm. Along with Marley, she is one of the 2 horses who are ideal for all new customers learning how to ride. Very peaceful, placid and kind, Gertie is very close to Bertie who really looks after her and protects her in the sometimes challenging herd environment. Gertie loves wet and muddy condition and having had a foal before with us, has been exemplary as a nanny with all the horses we have bred at the AFRC.
ANNIE
15.1hh 14yo skewbald mare
Annie is a stunning 15'1 skewbald mare bought from the local travelling community. A very rare driving mare, a fantastic, exciting but safe ride for advance riders only. Annie has the most unusual trotting cadence being extensively driven in the past, however all our experienced riders love riding her. Difficult to keep condition on and rather fragile, Annie needs extra management and lives mainly in during very bad weather. Rather a loner, we believe due to her previous living conditions, she does not like getting involved in the herd field politics so minds her own business.
BLUEBELL (BB)
15.3hh 16yo skewbald mare
BB is a smashing looking 15'3 skewbald mare and the biggest horse in our herd. Born with an amazing wall eye, BB is our biggest weight carrier along with Bertie with a limit of 85 kgs. Super safe in every way, can be lazy at times but a fun, safe ride when ridden properly. Great in the herd community but also rather a loner. Another one of our horses who keeps herself in great condition.
TRIXIE
14hh black mare
Trixie came from another travelling community near Romford. We took a very big risk with Trixie as we could not get our desired 2-week trial, but she proved to be an amazing horse. Super for all levels of riding, a great personality, easy to manage in every way, Trixie is a real star. On the portly side too but very much part of the herd without ever causing any issues.
CHUMLEY
14hh 20yo piebald gelding
Chumley is a super safe pony for all riders. Excellent to handle and loves tlc from humans. Chumley is really friendly with Marley so they live indoors next to each other and out in the field together. He does also enjoy spending time out with the herd but definitely not one to be involved in field herd politics.
PUMPKIN
12.1hh 12yo chestnut mare
Pumpkin was bought from a riding school in Reigate. Initially very shy and nervous, now a brilliant little pony for our junior riders. Very happy amongst our herd, a real pleasure to own and manage.
BRENDAN
14.3hh 18yo dark brown gelding
Brendon is another super horse from Duckhurst Farm. He is a really nice horse for our intermediate to advance riders, as he can be keen but also very safe. He now appears to run the herd with his friend, Tara.
PARIS
15.1hh 13yo black mare
Paris is the most recent horse bought from Duckhurst Farm. She has had a fantastic foal (now 2yo) while at the AFRC, named Napoleon. Paris is a really great horse to ride and a very talented jumper but only for the very advanced and ride leaders. Paris has found it difficult to integrate within our herd, we suspect because of her past living conditions, but is getting better, although I suspect she would rather be in a small paddock with one other horse. Paris needs good management to maintain a good weight but we all agree that she has wintered very well and now looks her absolute best.