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Meet our employers: Flying Start Riding Centre

We’re proud to shine a spotlight on Flying Start Children’s Riding Centre, who are dedicated to helping young riders grow in confidence and ability through their interactions with horses. With excellent facilities and a strong community focus, Flying Start offers valuable learning experiences for people of all ages. We recently spoke to Vicky Wyatt, Owner and Head Coach at Flying Start, about their journey, their experience with apprentices, and the difference it’s made to their team.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your history in the industry and your business?

I started riding at Flying Start at the age of 4, which gave me the inspiration and passion for horses and riding. I then moved on to working in the racing industry for many years, which gave me many more experiences and opportunities. I came back to Flying Start with my daughter, who was 4 at the time, and was given the opportunity to buy and take over Flying Start due to the previous owner retiring. Twelve years down the line, we have gone from 6 ponies to 17 ponies and horses, 5 members of staff, moved to bigger premises, become an ABRS+ centre, and embedded ourselves in the local community.

Here at Flying Start, we are not just passionate about riding but also about bringing children together, making new friends, creating new opportunities, and helping them learn new life skills and responsibilities.

When did you first start hiring apprentices, and what motivated you to take this step?

We welcomed our first apprentice in November 2023. The decision was driven by our desire to broaden our ethos and inspire others through natural horsemanship. It felt like a natural progression to help encourage more people into the equine world through hands-on learning and mentorship.

What benefits have you seen in your business from having apprentices on your team?

It has given inspiration to others, brought a fresh new approach to the school, and as they have gained more experience and confidence, they have been able to help by providing new ideas for lessons, equine management, and the general running of the business.

What advice would you give to an employer who is thinking about hiring an apprentice?

Haddon Training have been extremely supportive and have helped show us other ways the business can have an impact on education for a variety of different learners. Having a Trainer Coach visit regularly means that there is a great relationship between the business, the apprentice, and Haddon Training.


Find out more about our equine qualifications here.

Are you a business that is looking to hire an apprentice? Please get in touch with us here.

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