Working with children and animals is proving to be hugely rewarding for one of our tenants based at Simms Farm in Mortimer Common.

Specialist children’s care provider Amegreen Children’s Services run an Outdoor learning, Equine & Animal Assisted Therapeutic Service called Stable Futures from the farm.

Children and young people with a range of educational and behavioural challenges are given opportunities, through the work of the service, to return to mainstream education or move into training or work.

Up to 16 children at any one time interact with the 13 horses and ponies - along with goats, sheep, alpacas, guinea pigs and hens - in a range of carefully coordinated learning and support programmes designed around their needs.

Stable Futures Centre Manager, Emily Clayton said: “We know that just by being outdoors, surrounded by trees, wellbeing and mental health can improve significantly. We can go on forest walks and teach the children about orienteering and map reading in a great outdoor environment.”

Horses – which are all given a thorough risk assessment before being introduced to the children – are widely acknowledged for the role they can play in helping people with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety or depression.

Emily said many of the centre’s horses had themselves gone through a traumatic time and been rescued to become part of the Stable Futures team. “It gives the children and the horse a very strong connection,” she said.

“The power of the horse is incredible – we like to say here that the horses are as important as teachers, and we are all learning from them every day.”

James Meade, our Head of Rural Property and Land said: “It is heartening to know that the Estate’s facilities are being put to such good use, carrying out really valuable and positive work with children in the community. Stable Futures is a force for good – and fully in keeping with our ethos here at the Estate.”

Stable Futures is partnered with a number of organisations that provide accreditation for the services it provides, including Riding for the Disabled Association, City & Guilds and ASDAN. 

Amegreen Children’s Services, which also runs the successful Haywards Farm School on the Estate, is owned and run by Gary Carlin and Rachel Redgwell and has a long association with the Englefield Estate.