At Bovington Saddle Club, yard manager Steph Buchanan has spent three decades quietly transforming lives – not just of horses, but of people too
Anyone who has spent time around horses will tell you: ’They don’t just listen – they understand.’ For Bovington Saddle Club’s yard manager and head coach Stephanie Buchanan, that quiet connection has shaped a life and career grounded in community, care and compassion.
‘I got into horses when I was about 12 after being grounded by my parents,’ Steph says. ‘The only place I was allowed to go was to the pony with my sister. I then realised I could hire him out to other kids and earn money to get back to the arcades! Horses saved me from getting into trouble, really.’
WillDoes
Steph has been at the heart of Bovington RAC Saddle Club since the early 1990s. When she arrived, it was just a single field – no fencing, no water, no rubber school. Today, thanks in no small part to her relentless drive, the BHS-approved yard boasts two outdoor arenas, an indoor school, a BE-level cross-country course and 71 horses, including 38 on full livery.
‘None of it would have happened without help,’ Steph says. ‘People wanted to give back, and they did – through donations, time, support. It’s always been a team effort.’
Steph is qualified to train and assess students up to BHS Stage 4. But her influence extends far beyond exams and schooling surfaces.
In memory of her late nephew Will, she is a trustee of the charity Will Does, which provides grants for children facing challenges – whether that’s respite care or access to sport and activities they’d otherwise never get to try.
‘We started by raising money through things Will enjoyed,’ Steph says. ‘Now, if a young person applies for a grant – whether they need a break or want to try something new – we’ll help however we can.’
That passion for support led the BHS to approach her in 2019 to help pilot its Changing Lives Through Horses programme at Bovington. Aimed at children who are disengaged, disadvantaged or in need of support, the scheme uses horses as a gentle bridge back into learning and confidence.
‘There’s a huge need for alternative provision in Dorset,’ Steph says. ‘We’ve had 159 young people come through since 2019. The horse acts as a buffer – having the horse between the student and the instructor helps them feel less exposed. Some go back to school with more focus, others find their way into the equestrian industry – the scheme is run through the BHS, so there’s an education pathway with achievers awards which are set towards the BHS stages. You get some kids who really shine.’
Trust Sally
Five of the centre’s horses are rescues themselves, rehomed from the World Horse Welfare Centre in Somerset. ‘They’ve been brilliant at matching us with the right horses,’ Steph says. ‘And those horses do a really good job.’
One of the centre’s favourites is Sally, who has been with them for 16 years. Steph recalls a particular moment with fondness.
‘I got a call from a local care home: one of their residents really wanted to ride a horse. They turned up with a coach-load – Zimmer frames, walking sticks, the lot – right in the middle of a Bournemouth BUCS (British University & Colleges Sport) competition going on in one school, an RDA lesson in the indoor school and a Changing Lives Through Horses session in the third … They all wandered round the yard, and out came Sally, just quietly soaking up the attention.’
It’s this sense of inclusivity and purpose that sets Bovington apart. Alongside its charitable and community work, the yard plays a formal role as an RAC centre. Troopers in phase two training are introduced to basic horse care before joining the Household Cavalry, and young officers complete the mandatory Spurs Course.
The yard also offers a pony leasing scheme for military families.
‘Most of the kids wouldn’t get the chance to own a pony,’ Steph says. ‘Leasing one four days a week gives them that experience.’
The centre is now also an approved Pony Club Centre – something Steph pushed for when she realised younger liveries were struggling with transport to other clubs.
‘Kids are the future,’ she says. ‘I’ve worked with Pony Clubs for years and I love it. We set up our own centre here so they could keep learning and enjoying their ponies. Last year, we won at Bicton – out of the whole of Area 14. They look after their ponies so well. It gives them goals. They work through their Pony Club badges, and if they want to, they can move on to the BHS exams.’
Throughout our interview she calmly fielded questions from volunteers planning an unaffiliated ODE, which includes a newly-designed 70cm class to encourage novice riders. It’s that same open-armed ethos that has defined her decades at Bovington. One of Steph’s proudest moments was announcing the club would host its first British Eventing fixture: ‘It was 25 years ago now, but everyone had worked so hard to get us there. That was really special,’ she says.
National recognition
Another highlight came with her own horse, Joey. ‘I bought him on a whim after a close friend passed away – he was just meant to be a happy hacker. But he ended up competing at Badminton Grassroots and in the novice at Gatcombe. We had such fun.’
Despite her modesty, Steph’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she was named Coach of the Year by the BHS for her work on the Changing Lives programme. She was also shortlisted by Sport England as one of the UK’s top three coaches in the ‘Change a Life’ category. And in 2024, she received a British Empire Medal (BEM), which recognises meritorious service to the local community.
‘I was very surprised!’ Steph says. ‘The ceremony was lovely. General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who’s local to us and First Sea Lord, also gave me another award – that was a really personal touch.’
After more than 30 years, Steph shows no sign of slowing down. ‘To the outside world it might seem like it’s just liveries and riding lessons,’ she says. ‘But it’s so much more.’
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