A New Beginning at New Beginnings
Nestled in an idyllic and quiet corner of the Yorkshire countryside, New Beginnings is the kind of place that instantly puts you at ease and that’s exactly the point.
As Gaz arrived, he was greeted by the sight of two ex-racehorses being led into the paddock for some well-earned free time. Once let loose, they rolled, stretched and galloped with pure joy full of energy and clearly loving every second. It set the tone perfectly for the day ahead.
Inside, Pam and Kev who run New Beginnings gave Gaz a tour of the facilities. The setup is impressive: a well-equipped classroom, a kitchen area, and a fantastic outdoor space that includes a grass play area, stables, a schooling ring, and large pens for goats and chickens. Everything here has been thoughtfully designed with both animals and visitors in mind.
The first of two groups to arrive were younger guests, accompanied by their parents. Nikki, a former headteacher now working with New Beginnings, opened with a presentation to welcome everyone and help them feel settled before heading outside.
The kids had time to explore, play and get familiar with their surroundings visiting the chickens, stroking horses, and soaking it all in. One of the horses, a former racehorse still being gradually introduced to close human contact, handled the morning beautifully but after a while the team made the call to swap him for a more experienced horse, giving him the rest he’d earned.
Beth, one of New Beginnings’ equine experts, then took to the schooling ring to give a demonstration leading a mare through her paces as part of her ongoing education and preparation for rehoming and retraining.
Then it was Gaz’s turn. He introduced the group to the Equalizer, the mechanical horse used to teach jockey technique. After a quick demonstration, the kids all had a go. Some jumped straight on with confidence; others needed a little encouragement but every single one of them gave it a shot and did brilliantly. Even a few parents had a turn, quickly discovering just how much the position demands from your core and muscles as you crouch low in the saddle.
The two-hour session wrapped up with coffee and cake and not just any cake. A showstopping rave cake rounded off a wonderful morning.
The older guests arrived in the afternoon with their families and supporters, and the team ran through the same programme with the same warmth, the same activities and sense of achievement at the end of it.
New Beginnings is doing something really meaningful. It’s a calm, welcoming environment where horses and people support each other and days like this show exactly why that matters. We’re proud to have been part of it, and we can’t wait to come back.
