Barrow Farm Staff

Sally Waumsley - Equestrian Manager and Coach

Sally has brown collar length hair and is wearing a burgundy sweatshirt.
Sally first came to Barrow Farm as a 16 year old on a training scheme. She successfully finished her training and left to further her career. In 1999 Barrow Farm was looking for a new member of staff and Sally returned. Sally is now equestrian manager and she coaches both riding and driving.

Livvy Nixon - Assistant Equestrian Manager and Coach

Oliva has blonde hair and is wearing glasses
Livvy holds her Coach in Complete Horsemanship (Stage 3) from the British Horse society and has spent 4 years training and coaching at a large riding school in London. Livvy has been volunteering at Barrow Farm since she was 12 and is an RDA Group Coach.

Emily Power - Coach
Emily started as a Saturday volunteer. Following completing her A levels Emily spent a year working with us. Emily currently works on a Saturday and volunteers regularly in the week.

Rebecca Batson - Yard Assistant

Rebecca has brown shoulder length hair and is wearing a navy Barrow Farm sweatshirt.
Rebecca started at Barrow Farm as a student completing first an equine management and then an animal care qualification. She currently works 3 days a week for us as she further develops her skills.

Lucy Armstrong - Business Manager
Lucy works in the office and she is the person to contact if you have any queries about ride fees, volunteering, sponsor a pony but can deal with any questions you might have.
Email: lucy@barrowfarmrda.org.uk

Volunteer Coaches

Anne Mitchell - Riding and Driving Coach
Anne and her family started Barrow Farm and she has worked (and now volunteered) with the group since it started in 1976. She holds a huge variety of equine qualifications and is a both a Riding and Driving Coach.

Isobel Gowers - Riding Coach

Isobel who has her dark blond hair tied back and is wearing glasses standing next to Nicco the pony. Nicco is a palomino
Isobel has been volunteering since she was 12 and became a Group Coach at Barrow Farm in 2004. Since then she has completed further RDA coaching qualifications to enhance her coaching.

Lucy Creswell - Riding Coach
Lucy started volunteering as a teenager. She initially became an Activity Leader running Horse Care sessions. She has now completed her Group Coach assessment and coaches on a Saturday.

Putting our aims into action

Barrow Farm RDA is lucky to have exceptionally dedicated and well trained staff. The expertise they have between them is impressive:

  • Sally, Anne and Isobel hold  the level 2 coaching certificates and are what RDA call Coaches, meaning that they are qualified to coach at other RDA groups as well as Barrow Farm.
  • Sally holds the RDA Coach Certificate and Sally and Isobel are RDA Advanced Coaches. 
  • Livvy, Jo and Emily have been assessed as an RDA Group Coaches.
  • All are reviewed coaching regularly by the Riding for the Disabled Association and attend regular training days.
  • Sally is a regional show jumping rep and county coach.
  • Anne is regional equine advisor and carriage driving rep.
  • Isobel is regional endurance rep.
  • Anne and Sally are coach educators.
  • Anne, Jo and Sally also hold RDA carriage driving qualifications.
  • The staff and coaches also hold a variety of British Horse Society qualifications.
  • All staff and coaches regularly complete Safeguarding training.
  • All staff and coaches are trained in First Aid.
  • Staff regularly compete in local competitions and are involved with the ongoing training of the horses and ponies.

In addition Barrow Farm is approved and regularly checked by the following organisations:

We enjoy excellent relationships with local schools and colleges and act as a work placement for work-based learning students and Duke of Edinburgh volunteers.