Grosvenor has submitted plans for Cheshire’s first equine assisted learning centre, in partnership with specialist charity Ride High, supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people from across the region. 

Subject to approval, disused Cotton Edmunds Farm, Waverton, will be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility including indoor and outdoor arenas, stables and paddocks as well as classrooms and offices. 

If approved, Milton Keynes based Ride High will operate the site, creating only its second UK centre and the first in the north of England, supporting children and young people facing challenges in their lives, including poverty, isolation and poor mental health. 

Annabel Farbon, Agent, Grosvenor’s Eaton Estate, Cheshire, said: “This exciting proposal aligns with our ambition to provide high-quality properties that meet modern needs, improving their sustainability while preserving their unique heritage. If approved, the scheme will see disused agricultural buildings repurposed to develop a sympathetically designed, state-of-the-art facility that will help to support vulnerable children and young people from across the region.”

Equine assisted services are an established, evidence based intervention supporting mental health, wellbeing, confidence and social connection. 

Children and young people – who are referred by schools, local authorities and the NHS as well as other partner agencies – will visit weekly where they will learn to ride and care for horses in addition to educational programmes.

The proposed centre will accommodate up to 120 children a week, almost all of whom will be transported to the site via minibuses, reducing traffic on nearby roads. 

The charity also plans to provide a limited number of public riding lessons, supported learning, sensory programmes and holiday activities, delivered by Ride High’s skilled and experienced team.  

The facility will operate from 8.45-5.30pm weekdays and 9-6pm at weekends with some employees arriving earlier to prepare the horses. It is expected that there will be no more than 20 employees and volunteers on site at any time. 

The plans include accommodation for a yard manager who will also live on site, one of 14 new full-time roles that will be created. 

Dedicated vets, horse physios and farriers will provide both routine and emergency care to the charity’s 15 horses, helping to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare. 

Olivia Sugdon, Chief Executive, Ride High, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Grosvenor’s Eaton Estate to develop what will be Cheshire’s first equine assisted learning centre and our first in the north of England, subject to planning. 

“We’ve been operating from our facility in Milton Keynes since 2010, delivering a measurable impact and improving the lives of thousands of children and young people. The proposed development provides the platform to grow our offering, providing greater support, at bespoke facilities in a beautiful setting.”