Lancing Equestrian Centre celebrates horseball success with six riders picked to represent Great Britain

The British Horse Society Approved centre was bought by eventer Amy Baker in December 2023, having opened at Lancing College in June 2017.

Amy said: “Seeing six Sussex Horseball Club players pull on the GB shirt this summer is a moment our whole community is immensely proud of. Their achievements show what can happen when young people are given opportunity, support and belief.”

Alongside the riding school and educational programmes, the centre is home to Sussex Horseball Club. The horseball programme launched in April 2024 and the club has rapidly established itself as one of the largest of its kind in the UK, with teams competing from junior level to the sport's highest national division.

The 2026 season has seen the Under-21 and Under-16 teams become league champions, having competed without losing a match. Many of the riders were complete beginners when they came to the centre and progressed through the riding school and Changing Lives Through Horses programme to become team captains and international athletes.

Amy said: "Horseball is unlike any other equestrian sport. Horses are allowed to move naturally and run as a herd. Riders learn balance, communication, leadership and teamwork alongside their horsemanship.

“Watching some of our shy riding school riders and learners from our Changing Lives Through Horses programme become team captains and Great Britain representatives has been nothing short of extraordinary."

One of the most remarkable success stories is Ary, a horse that spent years with Riding for the Disabled Association, giving confidence to riders with additional needs, and is now preparing to represent Great Britain in international horseball.

Amy said Ary's success demonstrated the versatility of well-trained horses and the belief that every horse, and every person, has untapped potential.

The centre has celebrated an extraordinary year of achievements, including a nomination for the British Horse Society Riding School of the Year Award, national championship titles and the continued success of its Changing Lives Through Horses programme.

Amy said: “Equestrian sport can be about far more than ribbons and rosettes. In just a few years, Lancing Equestrian Centre has grown into a thriving community hub where children take their first riding lessons alongside international athletes preparing to represent Great Britain, and where young people who have struggled in mainstream education are discovering confidence, purpose and belonging through horses.”

At the heart of everything the centre does is the simple belief that every person deserves the opportunity to succeed.

Amy said: “People often measure success in medals, trophies and qualifications, but for me, success is measured in confidence, friendships and seeing a young person realise they are capable of far more than they ever believed.

“Through our Changing Lives Through Horses programme, we don't focus on what a learner can't do. We work alongside them, believing in their potential from day one. Instead of concentrating on barriers, we help them discover their strengths and build from there.

“Nothing makes me happier than watching friendships develop between learners who have spent years feeling isolated, or seeing a young person who barely spoke when they arrived become a confident, vocal member of the team. Those moments are every bit as important as any championship title."

The centre is set to host the Sussex Horseball Cup at Hickstead on August 22 and 23. The event brings together elite competition, grassroots riders and families for a weekend showcasing the sport to new audiences, while raising awareness of the British Horse Society's Changing Lives Through Horses programme and other equestrian charities.

Lancing Equestrian Centre also continues to support young people referred by schools and local authorities through its alternative provision programme. Learners work towards British Horse Society qualifications, gain employability skills, build confidence and, for many, take their first steps back into education, employment or training.

Amy said: “Our learners teach us just as much as we teach them. They make us better coaches, better listeners and better people. Whether someone comes here for their first riding lesson or to prepare for an international championship, they are part of the same community. That's what makes Lancing special."