13-year-old bay roan mare. I’m a Belgian draft horse and used mainly for RDA adult riders. I’m really friendly and I am proud to be Prodney’s girlfriend, we love grooming each other and hanging out. I have done some work in a collar and harness in the past and might try it again soon. Owned by Kate Fox.

11-year-old skewbald mare. I came to Park Lane in 2021 from Essex. I’m still learning the ropes but enjoying participating in RDA activities. I watch the older horses to learn their tips and tricks. I am used for children’s lead rein lessons, and take some of the more experienced clients on hacks.

19-year-old skewbald gelding. I am a safe set of hooves with lots of life experience. I came from another yard when my old owners thought I would fit in well here as an RDA horse. And they were right! Everyone who rides me falls in love with me as I am such a gentleman. I’m happy to take life a bit slower now due to my age.

17-year-old piebald gelding. The man who sold me to Natalie said I was ‘no use’ but I proved him wrong as I’m now the perfect ‘all-rounder’ pony and a superstar RDA horse. I take part in all activities which aren’t too strenuous including hippotherapy. Only very gentle and patient ponies can do this, so I feel really proud to belong to this special group.

Find out about adopting Dougie

23-year-old grey gelding. I’m a Highland pony, like the late Queen Elizabeth’s favourite pony, Emma. Given my age, I’m usually used for lead rein sessions with RDA riders. But I love a good run in the park to blow away the cobwebs too! I have been at Park Lane for a long time so I show the new horses their place in the pecking order.

Find out about adopting Eddy

9-year-old black gelding. I participate in lead rein lessons and do hippotherapy with a few special others. I’m not a morning pony and it takes me ages to wake up – so you’ll sometimes see me having a push start before my rides!

14-year-old grey mare. I’m a Connemara X from Ireland and I love to give everything a go. Last year, I went to Wales to compete in the Pony Club Endurance Championships. I do like being in the field on my days off and pretend that I don’t want to be caught. I am ridden by more experienced clients, including some RDA riders. Have you seen me on the cover of Natalie’s book? I always knew I was photogenic!

9-year-old gelding. I’m only a little pony so perfect for children’s activities, including RDA. My party trick is unzipping jackets with my teeth to remind humans that I like treats. I was bought for Park Lane through Tesco blue tokens. (Well, every little helps, after all.) I’m part of the extra special gang trusted to participate in hippotherapy.

13-year-old bay mare. I came from Essex in 2022 and am still settling in to Park Lane life and getting to know all the horses and humans. I’m still a bit shy, but I am a gentle giant – I’m a Shire X Cob. I’m not ready to join the riding school yet, so am being ridden by staff at the moment.

18-year-old grey mare. I have retired from a long and successful career as a polo pony. After living in a field for a couple of years I started a new life at Park Lane after I was generously donated by Pete McCormack. I’m used as the escort horse on hacks and ridden by the more experienced clients. I’m very friendly and love a cuddle!

29-year-old grey Connemara X. I worked at Park Lane Stables for a long time before retiring to our field in Oxshott. During the lockdown in 2020 I became a great friend to lots of lonely and isolated people who would visit me daily and Mini was the first word of one little boy. I’m a gentle horse and have taught many people to ride.

Find out about adopting Mini

43-year-old grey gelding (or about 115 in human years). I was originally a trotting horse from the Soviet Union. Natalie met me in Birmingham many years ago and told me it was love at first sight. If you visit Park Lane you’ll probably find me out and about supervising. My teeth are very wobbly now, so I eat mash and can only chew on hay or carrots. I’m owned by Natalie and I’ve taught her everything she knows about horses. Did you know I have my own blog and am a bit of a YouTube star?

Find out about adopting Prodney

19-year-old bay mare. I was a polo pony living in Berkshire before being kindly donated to Park Lane Stables. I came on the day of the Jubilee fete which was a baptism of fire! But I could tell that Park Lane was a happy place. Recently, my friend Ellie from the same yard arrived so now we swap polo stories all day.

10-year-old black gelding. I am known for my amazing mane and epic moustache. I’m an ‘all-rounder’ and member of the hippotherapy team. I also do dressage with some RDA riders. I’m very reliable and well behaved but I can be cheeky too.

Find out about adopting Reggie

6-year-old palomino gelding. I arrived from Spain in 2022 after an anonymous donor bought me for Park Lane Stables. I’m still very young and learning the ropes, but I’m really enjoying my new life and find it reassuring that I’m able to learn at my own pace. I’m told I’m calm and kind and have potential as an RDA pony, which makes me very proud. And I’m a looker too!

Read more: Meet Santa, the gift that keeps on giving

18-year-old blagdon blue gelding. I’m only used for driving the Fenix Freedom carriage which can take wheelchair users, and I take pride in being really steady and keeping my ‘riders’ safe. In 2022, I qualified for the RDA National Championships at Hartpury College in dressage.

24-year-old roan appaloosa gelding. I arrived from a very quiet home back in July 2022, so it’s taken a while to get used to a yard where there’s always so much going on. But I’ve always loved people and attention, so I feel as though I’ve really landed on my hooves here. I’m proud to already be doing sessions with our RDA participants. If you visit the stables, do come and say hello!

Read more: It’s time we introduced Spotty

Find out about adopting Spotty

26-year-old grey gelding. I’m very reliable and mainly used for RDA riders on the lead rein. I often get taken to events, like this 10K race, because I am so easy going. I like humans, but am less tolerant of other horses, so on walk outs I’m at the front so I can be in charge. When I’m in the field on my days off I still love a sneaky gallop.

I am the proud manager and founder of Park Lane Stables RDA. I am passionate about horses and people and privileged to work with them both. I am an RDA Coach, UKCC coach, Pony Club coach and BHS approved coach. I love the bones of every one of the horses and ensure their welfare comes above everything else.

Natalie is increasingly in demand as a public speaker. Read The inside story of a motivational speaker

My name is Rebekah and I have been with Park Lane since 2015. In this time, I have taken my BHS stage 3 and I am an RDA pink coach. I enjoy all aspects of daily horse care and love taking clients out hacking. My best pony friend is Cherry and I love spending time with her. I was diagnosed with Autism as a teenager and working at Park Lane means my differences are celebrated rather than tolerated.

Read more in Park Lane’s Rebekah Morgan

I have worked with horses from Shetlands to Shires and in settings from horse logging to horse racing. I just love being around horses and establishing connections with them, based on dignity, feel and integrity. These ideals are essential to my work with people too. I worked for many years in the NHS, mainly in addictions and latterly psychiatric liaison, in a number of roles. My work at Park Lane and with RDA brings much of this together.

Read more about David in: How my work in mental health and love of horses led inevitably to Park Lane Stables

I started volunteering in 2016 after taking early retirement from my job as a Marketing Director. After a few months I found myself doing the admin, newsletter, funding bids and anything else Natalie threw in my direction!

These days I’m the Administration Manager – recruiting participants and volunteers, analysing data, clerking board meetings, and writing reports, policies and procedures. I usually work from home, but I’m very much part of the team and like nothing better than escaping the ‘office’ to come to the stables and help with an RDA session (and have a pony cuddle of course!).

I was taught to ride by John Quinn at Park Lane Stables in the 1970s, long before Natalie arrived.

I’m a qualified RDA group coach and an accredited Pony Club coach and examiner. I’m also involved with our carriage driving activities, and training to be a driving coach. You’ll often find me driving our horses in the trailer or horse box to external activities and competitions.

As a coach developer, I also manage the training of our new RDA coaches.

I’m Lexy, a British Horse Society Accredited Professional Coach now working through my Stage 4. I joined Park Lane Stables when it first opened in 2008 and learned to ride on many of our currently retired ponies! The Stables has always been a big part of my life and I don’t think this will ever change.

I currently spend a lot of time training the staff members and apprentices; and clipping and riding horses. But you can also often find me in Eddy’s stable giving him a cuddle! You might also get to meet my lovely dog Ali, she is a quiet red fox Labrador that helps bring happiness to everyone who walks through our door.

Get to know Lexy better in ‘Why do I love my job? Let me explain how it all happened’

I am 28 years old, and spent three years at a horse base college in the New Forest before coming to Park Lane Stables as a volunteer in October 2019. I worked throughout the pandemic and the lockdowns, and now I’m on the staff full time.

I enjoy helping out on the yard, leading the horses and providing support for the carriage driving. My favourite horses are Sam because he is fun to be with, and Frenchie because she is just lovely to be with, especially for dressage or hacking.

I grew up in the heart of London during a time when the city was full of horses. I threw myself into that culture, steering ‘trolly ponies’ (who pulled carts), and navigating the busy streets to transport horses between various stables to deliver riding sessions.

Today, I love coaching carriage driving as well as doing it, and can also often be found driving our shiny new horsebox between the Stables and our fields in Surrey where the horses are turned out.

My passion for horses came at 6 when my father introduced me to riding. I joined the local stables and have never looked back! I became an RDA coach in 2010, and have been at Park Lane Stables since 2018.

I’ve worked with early years children and their families, with neuro-diverse adults, and with teenagers, doing my best to help them address their challenges. I’ve seen so many times how being outdoors and around horses can give a profound sense of connection. I’m currently studying counselling to enhance my ability to help.

I feel so privileged to work at Park Lane, it’s good for my soul too!

I first started horse riding in 2004 after an Occupational Therapist suggested that it would improve my balance, and joined Park Lane in 2010. I have since completed an apprenticeship in horse care and developed a passion for helping people to use the outdoors and horses to connect with and understand themselves and their emotions.

I am currently studying counselling and psychotherapy and hope to be able to help others who come to Park Lane to find peace within themselves, and to acknowledge what they can do.

Bio coming soon

I started at Park Lane age 9 as an RDA rider. I then joined the pony club and quickly became a volunteer at the weekends. Since leaving school, I have started training to become an RDA coach and I am doing an apprenticeship to become an equine groom. Park Lane encouraged me to become a part of the pony racing scheme and racing has become one of my passions.

I’ve been at Park Lane for about 7 years now. I’ve started training to be an RDA coach, and a level 2 apprenticeship groom. I love everything about working on the yard, the horses are truly amazing, the clients I work with are wonderful and inspiring, the staff I work alongside help me grow in confidence and teach me new things every day.

I first came to Park Lane Stables when I was 5, long before it was a disability charity. I’d been referred by Occupational Therapy, who suggested horse riding might help with balance problems and confidence. I’m autistic and have a learning disability, so was finding life tough.

It achieved that and so many other things. When Natalie arrived I began volunteering as well as riding, and I’m now an employee.

It’s been quite a journey but I’m proud that I’m valued as part of the Park Lane family.

I’m a Park Lane RDA ambassador, famous for my enthusiasm and for always smiling! I love meeting new and regular visitors and making sure they feel at home.

My favourite horses are Dougie, Jack and Eddy.

I will look forward to seeing you at the stables with a smile!

I’m a horsemanship trainer and a leadership and performance coach, committed to natural horsemanship techniques. These are based on a kinder and gentler relationship derived from working with the natural behaviour of free-roaming horses. I’m a student of Monty Roberts, famous for inventing ‘join up’ to describe the connection between human and horse.

Read about Marcel’s visit to Monty Roberts’ ranch in California and watch videos on Park Lane Stables’ YouTube channel

Park Lane Stables is definitely my happy place, I love being part of the team and would spend all week here if I could. Just being with horses makes me happy. Riding gives me such a sense of freedom, but I also enjoy helping out around the yard and am a champion groomer! My other passion is running, which I do with a guide runner as I’m partially sighted.

I’m an equine psychotherapist, now part of the Park Lane Stables team, though I grew up in Brazil. This form of therapy works with the horse to help humans to re-connect with themselves. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, honest! Find out more in my blog.

Bio to come soon

I first came to Park Lane in 2009 to try out horse riding, which I quickly fell in love with. I then joined as a Pony Clubber, and as the years progressed, went on to volunteer and eventually became a full time staff member working as a groom.

I no longer work in the equine industry, but I’m still part of the team at Park Lane Stables as a volunteer. I hope to work with horses full time again someday.

I run a marketing consultancy based in Teddington, mostly working in international publishing. But I’m a keen rider too, and got to know Natalie riding with her in Bushy Park.

I offered my services in February 2021 to help the fundraising campaign go national. It was an emotional few weeks, but I’d joined a great team of people determined not to be beaten, and somehow we prevailed.

I continue to lead the marketing and communications, developing the content on the website and writing the monthly Pony Express newsletter. And I confess that Prodney does get a little help with his blog.

As a brand consultant, I’d worked on successful crowdfunding campaigns for a number of start-ups, so I approached Natalie to offer my support in 2020 – and have never looked back. I work closely with Rachel and make sure the website is updated and kept running.

I’m also a green card volunteer at the Stables, where Trigger is (one of many!) favourites.

Horses have always been part of my life. I had my first riding lesson at age 8 and was told I looked like a sack of potatoes. This remark always comes back to me when sitting in the saddle.

I started riding at Park Lane in the late 1980s. I was horrified when I learned that the stables may be sold to a developer and researched the history of the building to help with the Townscape Merit Award. I also campaigned on horseback with Rebekah in Bushy Park where I am a volunteer ranger. In 2022 I became an ‘official’ green-carded volunteer.

I’m a freelance artist of over 50 years and ‘Artist in Residence’ at Park Lane Stables (amongst other things). I am available for any artwork that might help raise funds. There are cards for sale, face painting at fundraising days, and I donated over 70 individual commissioned watercolours to the 2021 crowdfunder campaign.

Why do I do it? Every so often you observe an exceptional event like a young man totally blind from birth discovering what a horse ‘looks’ like through his fingertips. I’ll never tire of days like this.

Read more about Joy in From the Royal Academy to Park Lane Stables

Our volunteers are too many to mention everyone by name, but that doesn’t mean they’re not an essential part of the Park Lane Stables team. Head over to our Volunteer page to find out more.

I have considerable experience of special needs and fully understand the enormous benefits that horse riding brings to individuals with disabilities. Having spent over 40 years in business roles and have been a director of public and private companies, including a special needs school charity.

I oversaw the purchase of the Teddington stables and lease arrangements at Ham and I am now contributing to the development of a structural and operational model for Park Lane Stables.

I’m a communications consultant, (and former director of communications at Sony Music). I came on board in February 2021 and help Natalie and the team deal with their enhanced national profile.

An animal lover and conservationist, I am enthusiastic about the therapeutic power of the PLS horses, and also what PLS means to the local community. I’m also a trustee of Beauty Banks, the UK’s first hygiene poverty charity.

I was invited to be a trustee in 2014. My disabled son, Tom, was already part of the Park Lane RDA team and a volunteer. Our link to the stables goes back to 1994 when Tom learnt to ride.

I worked in Sales and Customer Service in the City, but following Tom’s birth I became a full-time carer for him and my late husband. For some years I had a partial break from my caring role, helping as a teaching assistant at a local primary school.

It is a privilege and a joy to support the charity in building its future.

I became a trustee because I believe I can make a difference based on my experience and on-going involvement in the corporate world. I grew up with horses as my father was a professional horse trainer. And so I understand their amazing beauty and power, and the impact they can have on people’s lives. Once I met Natalie, it was impossible not to be inspired by all that she had achieved.

Having been CEO of several high-profile businesses I hope I can contribute to Park Lane Stables continuing to be the place of empowerment, opportunity and growth it already is.