Our aim at Barrow Farm is to enable people with special needs and disabilities to develop their abilities and enrich their lives through riding.

Barrow Farm is a specially equipped riding centre in Mid Essex providing the opportunity for people with special needs and disabilities to ride. Barrow Farm is a registered charity.

Why not take a look round our website and meet the wonderful team that makes it all possible, the instructors, ponies, riders, supporters and volunteers. Come and join our team!

Dates for your diary

The answers were:

Fundraising update

There are currently lots of iniatives underway to help raise funds to cover the running costs of Barrow Farm. Unfortunately riding fees only cover about half the costs of running a session and it is difficult to get grants and large donations to cover the day to day expenses of the centre. Some of the things that you might like to get involved in at the moment include:

The Giving Machine

Do you ever shop online at major retailers such as Amazon, Argos, Tesco, Play, iTunes, Next, Waterstones?

If the answer is YES, then you will be able to help Barrow Farm get donations from these retailers plus many more via a charitable giving organization called THE GIVING MACHINE.This is a not for profit giving organization which processes a donation from the retailer to your favourite charity – Barrow Farm – with no cost at all to you – or us! For example, if you wish to buy a book from Amazon, instead of going direct to the Amazon website, go to The Giving Machine website, register with them to identify Barrow Farm as your chosen charity, click on Shop with Us and choose Amazon and continue from there. We will get a donation from Amazon on the back of your purchase and it will cost you nothing, just an extra click or two of the finger. Many schools, clubs and charities are signing up to this organization and it’s a great way for us to get much needed funds and for you to support us. Please visit The Giving Machine website and check it out.

Booksale and knitwear

The are a range of books available in the room at the end, you will find them on the bookshelves near the window to the kitchen. There are also a range of scarves, childrenswear and other items knitted and donated by Mary Mitchell also available for sale.

Jet gets his Gold Blue Peter badge

Back at the end of October 2010 Jet had a special visitor, Helen from Blue Peter. The purpose of her visit was to film the presentation of a Gold Blue Peter badge to none other than Jet. Only two animals prior to Jet have received this prestigious award and Jet received it to recognise all the hard work he has done providing rides and drives for disabled adults and children.

Helen arrived with two other members of crew (to do the directing/filming/sound). They filmed some shots on the yard and then filmed Jet taking part in a lesson. Sally W was teaching assisted by Clare. Jet was ridden by Lucy and also present were Starra and Philippa, Tawny and Kiara and Fergus and Georgia who were kept busy moving cups, throwing bean bags in buckets as well as having to steer their ponies and make them stop and go. Whilst they were busy Anne was talking to the camera telling everyone all about Jet.

Jet is 29 in 2011. He was bought as a result of Blue Peter's Rags appeal in 1987. Following 14 months of training to be a ridden RDA pony he arrived at Barrow Farm ready to start work. Jet had already established himself as a versatile RDA pony when Anne decided to learn to carriage drive in 1994. Having passed his RDA driving test he gave numerous drivers the opportunity to take part in an equestrian sport. Jet has now retired from driving but still continues to keep his old joints moving doing a few rides but he has more than earnt his semi-retirement from being one of the busiest ponies at Barrow Farm.

It is Jet's good nature and usefulness at RDA that led to him winning both at regional and national RDA competitions in everything from dressage, tack and turnout, working pony and rider to the mounting competition. Everyone at Barrow Farm agrees Jet thoroughly deserves his Gold Blue Peter badge.

Jet is an old hand at the filming thing, nothing special for him but there was an audience that had come to watch the ride and Jet receive his badge. The day also gave the opportunity for some of the Barrow Farm riders to chat to Helen Skelton about Jet and riding in general. Jet had his Gold Blue Peter badge pinned on his bridle with a round of applause from the onlookers but as usual he took it all in his stride.

Coming soon to the website - watch this space!

ASDAN - What is it? Plus details of how some of our riders received their certificates at the RDA conference.