Kate Kirkpatrick, Chief Instructor & Proprietor

Kate has over 30 years experience in owning, training and breaking horses. Having grown up with horses of all shapes and sizes, she is an enthusiastic and passionate instructor offering practical solutions to common riding issues. She loves to instill confidence in her riders through all aspects of horsemanship, not solely riding.

Kate is our lead registered Pony Club Coach and Assessor.

Kate is one of the designated Safeguarding Officers at Stoke Lane Stables.

Top Three SLS Horses/Ponies: Troy, Jon & Millie

Celia Case, Instructor

Celia started life at SLS at a mere 11 years old, riding the smaller ponies for Kate and often helping with mucking out at the weekends.

Having now secured her place at University, Celia mainly teaches during the holidays. Celia rides competitively and often instructs our more advanced riders and accompanies hacks.

Celia can often be found plaiting random ponies tails to an exceptionally high standard.

Celia is one of our registered on-site ABRS+ testers and regularly assists with our Rosette Awards.

Top Three SLS Horses/Ponies: Poppy, Molly & Troy

Sarah Wood, Instructor

Sarah is our amazing full-time instructor and is also one of our Working Liveries, with her ponies Malibu and Bonny keeping her very busy! Sarah has run a tack shop and been teaching for a number of years, is mum to two incredible SEN children and is enthusastic and makes every lesson fun! Sarah also runs our 'Trotting Tots', 'Adult Rides' and 'Home Ed' sessions during the week.

Top Three Horses/Ponies: Fagin, Zircon & Molly

Eileen Smith, Instructor

Eileen teaches our Mini and Junior groups and as such has a great rapport wih our younger riders giving fun and exciting group lessons to our little ones! In addition to this, she is also on our Helper Assessment Panel and takes on our school activity lessons during the week in term-time.

Eileen has her own horse, Cherry, who she dedicates her time to in addition to her teaching at Stoke Lane Stables!

Eileen is first aid trained and is one of our safeguarding officers and ABRS+ testers.

Top Three Horses/Ponies: Fagin, Harvey & Poppy

Marie Potter, Instructor

Marie started out with SLS as an adult rider and couldn't keep away! Marie is keen to use our 'praise' ethos with the younger riders becasue, as a qualified counsellor, she has a fantastic rapport with those struggling with nerves or social anxieties.

Marie has her own horse, Lily, at a nearby yard and they love long woodland hacks together!

Marie is one of our Pony Club coaches and regularly assists with our Rosette Awards and Efficiency Tests.

Top Three SLS Horses/Ponies: Conker, Troy & Millie

Nicci Dover-Ward, Pony Club Coach

Nicci is our accredited Pony Club Coach and is also one of our Working Liveries, looking after the big boys Marley and Ollie. Nicci is extremely knowledgable about all things Pony Club and is an encouraging and empowering leader.

Top Three SLS Horses/Ponies: Marley, Conker & Tangle

Kim Couzens, Human Welfare Officer (HWO)

As well as being a hugely supportive and inspiring member of the parent body, Kim has also gained her Safeguarding Certification and is the first point of call for any safeguarding issues at the yard. Please contact Kim on kim.couzens@yahoo.com if you have any concerns about policies, procedures, staffing or welfare.

Top Three SLS Horses/Ponies: Blue, Cole & Muffit

Ralph Kirkpatrick, Yard Dog

The most important role, Ralph provides useful barking duties as well as skill in eating random things and generally being beautiful.

Top Three SLS Horses/Ponies: Foxy, Dandy & Jon