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PUPILS CAN BRING THEIR PONIES TO TOP NORTH WALES PRIVATE SCHOOL , MYDDELTON COLLEGE
Horse-mad pupils can now bring their ponies with them to a top North Wales private school after its equestrian centre re-opened this month .
The right royal £ 30,000 renovation comes 15 years after Olympic eventing gold medallist Princess Anne opened the facilities at what is now Myddelton College in Denbigh .
It is the latest addition to the amenities at the fast-growing co-educational school , one of the newest in the UK , which took over the premises of the former Howell ’ s School in 2016 .
The school ’ s 37 acres of grounds already have extensive sporting facilities including tennis and squash courts , a gym and climbing wall as well as cricket , football and rugby pitches which are also used by local clubs .
Parent and former Welsh junior international show-jumper Ruth Hogan , from Anglesey / Trefnant , has three children at the school , including son Thomas in Year 7 , who has followed in his mum ’ s tracks to represent Wales , with daughter Sophie , 11 , due to join them in September .
Ruth , who has also worked at National Hunt racing stables in Ireland , has provided expert advice to the school on the renovation and she said : “ The school were very keen to bring the facilities here back into use and it was also important to us as a family .
“ We ’ re delighted with the results and Myddelton now has some of the finest facilities in North Wales for riding and competing in equestrian events .
“ We already have a show-jumping team here at the school and hope soon to have dressage and eventing teams as well .
“ As a family we also like the all-round education the school provides , academically and also outside the classroom with their riding facilities , rugby and football , and their learning through the outdoors programme is really amazing .”
The equestrian centre now has stabling for up to 10 horses and ponies , two 20-foot by 40-foot all-weather arenas and a ten-acre field and with easy access to a network of bridle paths in the surrounding Vale of Clwyd countryside .
The school can also organise specialist training for riding for all levels of abilities including taster sessions for novice riders .
Mum Andrea Stone , from Efenechtyd , near Ruthin , a dentist in Denbigh , has three children at Myddelton College and daughters Isabella and Daisy have also ridden for Wales .
She said : “ My children are very keen and are members of the Flint and Denbigh Pony Club so to be able to ride here at school is amazing .
“ The stable yard looks fantastic now and there are lots of skills they can develop here with a big field where they could even do cross-country riding .”
Adele Lamb , from Kinmel Bay , has a 13-year-old daughter Leah at the school and she said : “ This is like a dream come true for her .
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