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Riding A Dream Academy Accepting Applications For Second Residential Week

Applications have today opened for the Riding A Dream Academy's second Residential Week which is aimed at supporting talented young riders aged 14-18 from underrepresented communities, diverse backgrounds and those that ride at urban equestrian centers.

The Academy, which is funded by the Racing Foundation, was set up following Khadijah Mellah's win in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood when she became the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horserace. It aims to help broaden diversity and inclusion in racing by providing opportunities for other young people. The Residential Week acts as a fun introduction to British horse racing and will once again be held at the British Racing School (BRS) from Monday, May 30 to Friday, June 3. The closing date for applications, via the website www.ridingadreamacademy.com/the-residential-week, is Sunday, Feb. 13.

So far the Academy has supported 18 young riders from underrepresented groups and urban equestrian centers through its first Residential Week in 2021, and the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship which runs for a year and currently has eight students. To date, 72% of the Academy's cohort have come from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

ITV presenter Oli Bell, who co-founded the Academy alongside Great British Racing's Naomi Lawson said, “At the Academy we are passionate about providing opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds, who have learnt to ride at an urban equestrian centre or city farm so that we can help to make racing more diverse and inclusive. We are thrilled to have supported so many talented riders so far and are looking forward to welcoming our next Residential Week group later this year. We'd love to uncover more stars of the future but more than that, this is about giving opportunities to people who might not otherwise have had it and showing what a wonderful sport racing is.”

Feedback from students and parents has been incredibly positive with one student rating the week, “100/10. Having an experience like this has really enforced what I want to do. I LOVED it.” A parent also said, “I can't praise the week highly enough – it's a ground-breaking opportunity that has educated me more in a week than all the years I have been trying to find out what potential there may be for my child in the horsey world.”

Andrew Braithwaite, Finance Director at British Racing School said, “Everyone involved at the British Racing School in the Academy has thoroughly enjoyed hosting the students on the Residential and the Scholarship and it is simply wonderful to see young people being given the opportunity to get involved in racing and experience the thrill of riding thoroughbreds – both groups have been an inspiration. There are obviously a range of initiatives within racing aimed at widening access and giving opportunity to those from underrepresented backgrounds but I would venture few will have as much impact as this.”

Whilst on the Residential Week students benefit from the brilliant coaching of the British Racing School instructors and learn to ride racehorses for the very first time. They learn how to hold the jockey position and bridge their hands, whilst also learning how to look after our horses. Students also have the chance to find out more about the sport by going to the races, visiting studs and other racing establishments and going up onto Newmarket's famous gallops.

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Applications Open For Riding A Dream Academy Residential Week

Applications are now open for the second Residential Week of the Riding A Dream Academy. Aimed at supporting talented young riders aged 14-18 from under-represented communities, diverse backgrounds and those that ride at urban equestrian centres, the Academy is funded by the Racing Foundation. It was set up after Khadijah Mellah's win in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood when she became the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horserace. The Residential Week is an introduction to British horse racing and will be held at the British Racing School (BRS) from May 30-June 3. To apply, please visit the Riding A Dream Academy website.

ITV presenter Oli Bell, who co-founded the Academy alongside Great British Racing's Naomi Lawson said, “At the Academy we are passionate about providing opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds, who have learnt to ride at an urban equestrian centre or city farm so that we can help to make racing more diverse and inclusive. We'd love to uncover more stars of the future but more than that, this is about giving opportunities to people who might not otherwise have had it and showing what a wonderful sport racing is.”

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One-Handed Teenager Chasing Horse Racing Dream In Britain

A young one-handed rider is breaking down boundaries, having successfully graduated from the British Racing School.

Harry Enright, 17, who rides with a prosthetic arm linked to the reins through a magnetic device, recently completed the 18 week foundation course that prepares young riders for a career in horse racing and is now working at trainer Lawney Hill's racing stables in Oxfordshire as a work rider.

Harry was born with one hand and has always had a love of horses and riding. Having first sat on a donkey at eight months old on holiday in Ireland, his parents turned to the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket when he decided he wanted to pursue a career in racing.

Harry said, “When I was younger I was quite into football and it got to the point where I thought I could either continue playing that, work in an office or try and make something of myself.

“I've always loved horses and decided I wanted to take that further and get into racing so I came to the British Racing School. There is Guy Disney who rides with a lower limb prosthetic but we weren't aware of anyone else who rode with a prosthetic arm.

“I started out at the British Racing School doing a nine-week course and then came back for the 18 week course with loads of riding and mucking out. Together with the BRS and Steve Cox and the team at Dorset Orthopaedic we have created a prosthetic which allows me to safely ride racehorses.

“The prosthetic is made of silicon which slides onto my arm and there is a magnet at the end which attaches to the reins. A power circuit keeps it in place and if I fall off the circuit is broken, releasing the magnet so that I don't get caught up in the reins dragged along.”

Andrew Braithwaite, Finance Director at the BRS who has been instrumental in developing the bespoke prosthetic said, “We've been working with Harry to create a prosthetic which has allowed him to ride racehorses so that not only has he been safe but all the other horses and riders with him have been safe as well.

“The key was to find a solution that didn't require the horses to adapt to the way Harry was riding. Thanks to Harry's determination and natural ability this has been achieved. It has been great to see him successfully complete the course and go on to full time employment.”

Michelle, Harry's mother said, “We are extremely proud of Harry. Behind all of this for him to inspire others like him to never give up on your dreams to really put yourself out there and keep trying. We're in the 21st century and he wants to show that anything is possible. We are so proud of him with his determination to fight for the dream that he wants.”

Having graduated, Harry is now working at Lawney Hill's racehorse yard in Oxfordshire.

He said, “Everyone has their bigger goal of where they want to be. The biggest goal for me is probably trying to be a jockey. For now, I'm just taking it step by step. My next goal was to get into the workplace and I've achieved that and now it's just continuing to move forwards towards my dreams.”

Lawney Hill said: “Harry is hard-working, cheeky and dedicated and he's determined not to let anything get in his way. We are so impressed with his riding ability and his manner with the horses and he has been a brilliant addition to our team since he has joined us.”

The team are continuing to develop and improve the prosthetic. If people would like to contribute to this process, please contact Andrew Braithwaite at the British Racing School.

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Riding A Dream Academy Launched To Support Riders From Under-Represented Communities

A new Academy to support talented riders from under-represented communities to get into racing has been launched. The Riding A Dream Academy, named after the documentary that followed Khadijah Mellah on her journey to becoming the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horse race, will welcome its first cohort this summer.

Kindly funded by the Racing Foundation, the Academy has been independently developed by ITV Racing's Oli Bell and Great British Racing's Head of PR, Naomi Lawson. In its pilot year it will run two programs for those aged 14-18 – The Khadijah Mellah Scholarship and a residential week, both delivered by the British Racing School in Newmarket.

The Jockey Club, which stages many of British Racing's biggest events including The Festival at Cheltenham, the Randox Grand National at Aintree and The Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs will also kindly fund one Scholarship place for a rider from St James City Farm in Gloucester, a club that they have supported now over a number of years.

Khadijah Mellah, who made history when winning the Magnolia Cup in 2019 and who learned to ride at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton said: “Racing changed my life forever and I hope that by getting involved in the Riding A Dream Academy it will change other young people's lives too. If you come from my background it can be difficult to imagine yourself in racing so I hope the Academy will give other young people the confidence that racing is a sport that you can get involved in, where you will be supported and where you can achieve your dreams and anything you set your mind to.”

Oli Bell, ITV Racing presenter who has helped to develop the Academy said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Racing Foundation for funding The Riding A Dream Academy which will enable lots of young people who wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity to experience the thrill of horse racing. It will hopefully provide a legacy to Khadijah's achievements when she showed that the impossible can be possible and it is something that I am hugely proud to be a part of. I look forward to meeting the racing stars of the future who will be a part of this terrific new initiative.”

Susannah Gill, Trustee of the Racing Foundation and Chair of the Diversity in Racing Steering Group, said: “British racing is a wonderful sport and all of us involved in it must work together to ensure future generations feel they can have the opportunity to be part of it. The Riding a Dream Academy is a fantastic example of the positive action needed to ensure British racing is a diverse and inclusive sport in which everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential and where people from all communities feel welcome. The Racing Foundation is very pleased to offer its support from the outset and huge credit must go to Oli Bell, Naomi Lawson, the British Racing School and everyone involved in making the Riding a Dream Academy a reality.”

Naomi Howgate, General Manager of Ebony Horse Club in Brixton where Khadijah learned to ride welcomed the initiative saying: “It's brilliant that The Riding A Dream Academy has been developed as part of Khadijah's legacy. Having role models that you relate to is so important and it is great that the young people at Ebony and other urban equestrian centres who have been inspired by Khadijah's achievements will also have the opportunity to explore the world of horse racing through the Academy's two programmes.”

The Khadijah Mellah Scholarship is a year-long program for talented riders aged 14-18 from underrepresented communities which, in its first year, will welcome eight riders, with applications now open via www.ridingadreamacademy.com (closing date June 14). The Scholarship will see the students spend a week at the British Racing School to hone their riding skills, followed by 11 monthly weekend sessions at the school where they will be paired with a mentor, have the chance to gain work experience at a top racehorse trainer's yard, participate in further pony races and gain a 1st4Sport Level 1 qualification in the horseracing industry. Its sister program, the Residential Week, will act as an introduction to the racing industry for less experienced riders and is likewise aimed at those from underrepresented groups and communities.

Both programs will be delivered by the British Racing School in Newmarket.

Andrew Braithwaite, Finance Director who has been instrumental in the Academy's development, said: “Creating the Riding A Dream Academy is a fantastic idea and links in really well with other opportunities in the sport. The British Racing School is delighted to be involved in the Academy which will help to open up racing. It will provide a really important missing link to help young people from diverse backgrounds get more involved and mean that we are tapping into the full spectrum of talent out there.”

Khadijah's success in the Magnolia Cup came aboard Haverland, trained by Charlie Fellowes who will be one of the trainers to provide work experience to those on the Scholarship program.

He said: “Lots of trainers will be more than open to supporting this brilliant initiative. Khadijah's story and success was so powerful and creating a lasting legacy that helps other young people from underrepresented backgrounds get into racing is something that we all see the value in. My team and I can't wait to get involved.”

You can find out more about The Riding A Dream Academy at www.ridingadreamacademy.com / info@ridingadreamacademy.com.

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