DORSET HORSE RIDING INSTRUCTOR AWARDED THE BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL (BEM) FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE
Stephanie Buchanan, yard manager and head riding coach at the RAC Saddle Club Bovington in Dorset, has been awarded The British Empire Medal (BEM) for her outstanding work with young people and her contribution to society.
The BEM is a national honour bestowed by His Majesty The King in recognition of outstanding public service to people who make a real difference to local communities.
Says Stephanie: “It’s a huge honour be awarded a BEM, and I was quite taken back when I heard the news. I’m just doing my job… I’m really lucky that I am in a position to help so many young people by introducing them to the incredible horses and ponies we have here at the Saddle Club. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without a great team of staff and liveries behind me many of whom volunteer hours of their time.”
Stephanie, who lives in Swanage, began teaching at the RAC Saddle Club in 1990 and over the years has built a sterling reputation for producing young riders and mentoring many children through difficult times in their life (please see case studies and testimonials below).
In addition to the club providing riding lessons, livery and industry qualifications for both military personnel and civilians, Stephanie has worked tirelessly to fund raise over £150k in order to invest in new facilities. In 2000 it became a venue for British Eventing and it regularly hosts unaffiliated show jump and dressage competitions.
The centre has provided Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) facilities and ponies for many years and Stephanie introduced the British Horse Society (BHS) Changing Lives Through Horses (CLTH) programme in 2019 to help local children who, for various reasons, need additional support, are disengaged, or disadvantaged, or at risk of being excluded from education. Since its introduction 120 children have been given the opportunity to meet ponies, learn how to look after them and ride if they wish to do so.
In 2022 Stephanie was awarded Coach of the Year for her work with CLTH for the BHS and in 2022 she was named one of the UK’s top three coaches nominated for a Change a Life award supported by Sport England for her exceptional dedication to assisting personal growth and development.
BHS freelance coach Sam Lewis, who has known Stephanie for nearly 20 years, said: “Stephanie has mentored hundreds of adults and children over the last couple of decades. Not only has she tirelessly thought of imaginative ways to raise money and rallied liveries to help her, but she also has spent hours, days and weeks of her own time sourcing ponies and horses for both the riding school and private clients. In many instances her actions have helped children who are struggling at an extremely difficult time in their life. Over the years some have lost family members, while others are struggling with disabilities or difficulties and simply can’t communicate with those around them. The horses have, with Steph’s guidance, played a key part in their recovery providing companionship, focus and structure, helping them to channel their behaviour, learn life skills and resilience.”
Dr Nicola Springs, livery and mother of two children taught by Steph said:
“Steph has the ability to connect with young people and understand their difficulties, making a real difference to many young people’s lives. She is the heart and soul of The RAC Saddle Club. In the summer of 2019, my youngest daughter, Josie, was diagnosed with severe anorexia nervosa. She was a British gymnast at the time competing on the international circuit. She was deteriorating rapidly and we were advised that inpatient hospital treatment was the only option if her weight did not increase. I took her with me to Bovington one afternoon to help my oter daughter Maddy ride. Steph had recently had a sudden and tragic family bereavement. Despite this she approached Josie and took her to meet one of the ponies. She spent time with her and a special pony Rosie over the next few months and this was the key to Josie’s recovery. Without this support our lives would be very different today.”
Jo Wood, former student and groom at the RAC Saddle Club
“I now look back on my time and opportunities I was given at Bovington as being the best foundation for the career I have now – managing the Mounted Section for Gloucestershire . Steph worked tirelessly on developing relationships with clients and liveries to ensure we had some lovely horses to ride for our training towards industry exams and to gain experience competing. Having not owned my own horse this was an incredible opportunity and one I will be eternally grateful for. We rode newly backed horses to Novice eventers to Cavalry horses to Hunting and ROR under her guidance and what an experience! Steph has always been a sucker for the underdog and her kindness and determination to make everyone feel part of the Club still goes on to this day. I for one would not be where I am today without the opportunities, experiences and horses Steph and the Club made available for me and the trust and empowerment that came with it. Steph was a great mentor to me both personally and professionally during my time at Bovington and for years to come. “
Vanessa Bye, former apprentice
Steph taught me to ride over 30 years ago. At this time the RAC Saddle club consisted of 5 ponies and 5 Cavalry Blacks on loan from HCMR. Steph was the only instructor and I was slightly horrified that I was to ride an enormous Cavalry Black called Ocharina. Steph reassured me and said there was nothing to fear. Ocharina was indeed a gentle giant. However, I didn’t account for my complete lack of balance and seat in the saddle. I fell off at every corner, and Steph undeterred kept getting me back on. I was pretty disappointed at how rubbish I was and thought maybe riding isn’t for me after all. Steph would have none of it and said I just needed to have some sessions on the lunge. And that was the start of my riding career. She inspired me so much that by the time I had finished my A Levels, I knew I wanted to work with horses and was taken on at the Saddle Club as part of the YTS (an Apprenticeship today). In 1996 to go and work for the Household Cavalry in London. She taught me as a young 17 year old to believe in myself, and that hard work pays off and I carry that with me to this day. What a truly inspirational person Steph is.
Karl Jenkins, CLTH pupil and apprentice who left school aged 15 and was struggling with anxiety
“Since being at the RAC Saddle Club I have had to put myself out there and talk to people that I don’t know and socialise with such amazing people! It has improved my confidence drastically and has focused my mind elsewhere as well as getting me out of the house and out of the sticky situation I was getting myself into. Steph and the equestrian community have given me such a sense of belonging. With being given the opportunity to work and learn with and about these amazing animals is wonderful. I truly feel as though I can now achieve things and complete tasks regardless. I feel brighter not just in my thoughts but as a person. RAC Saddle Club has given me a sense of belonging – it is like a second family.”
Says Stephanie Buchanan:
“I started as a freelance coach at Bovington in November 1990. With only five ponies and 20 kids in the Pony Club I had to beg to use four army horses! Before long I was asked to run it as a going concern. There were only 15 stables compared to the 50-plus we have now and the main fields were not fenced and did not have running water. 1996 was the turning point as I was contracted by Kingston Maurwood College (KMC) to produce 30 BHS Stage 3 horses for them to use in their equine programme and this gave us the money we needed to begin investing in the Club’s facilities.
Membership grew and we organised social events to build and paint jumps. In 1998 we raised £5k in local sponsorship and built our first proper cross country course. In 2000 we hosted our first BE event where I first met course designer Adrain Ditcham and who I have worked with ever since.
The yard became a ‘where to train’ centre for BHS students up to Stage 4 in 2001 when we raised the sum of £68k and turned the front paddock into the all-weather arena suitable to run competitions year round. Later, as competitors had nowhere to park everyone rallied together to help me organise a festival to raise money to build a lorry park.
We extended the arena around 2013 but tragedy struck not long after when we were shut down for two months with a Strangles outbreak. In the spring 2019 I was approached by the BHS to look at the CLTH programme and over the years we have put over 120 young people through the course helping to spread the word about the power of the horse.
In 2021 we lost our cabin and office in a storm and raised funds by having an online auction. Liveries once again helped. One, Nicki Springs ran a half marathon and we raised money to build a club house and hub for our members . We also bought toilets and showers to attract other clubs and groups to come and use our club for camps.
For many years I have been so proud of how Bovington produces young people to ride and care for their horses and we have had some amazing results and personal achievements along with a yard of happy horses but I never dreamed that 2023 with culminate in such an award. I’m overwhelmed.”
The RAC Saddle Club is a charity which offers discounted lessons and livery for military personnel while providing local civilian residents with the ability to enjoy riding lessons and industry qualifications. For more details on The CLtH programme see https://www.racsaddleclub.co.uk/changing-lives-through-horses/
For interviews with Stephanie Buchanan and images please contact PR Sam Lewis 07968 426941 or email office@racsaddleclub.co.uk