Four girls from inner city London spent the weekend at Stonar School, taking an opportunity to use world class horse riding facilites.

The girls, aged 14 and 16, were visiting from Brixton’s award-winning Ebony Club, which gives young people from some of London’s most deprived areas access to horse riding, outdoor activities and mentoring.

Stonar’s director of riding, Darrell Scaife, is a volunteer with the Ebony Club and helped to arrange the visit.

He said: “The girls arrived on Saturday and were met by some of our sixth form girls. We gave them a tour of the school and they had a look at the facilities we have here.

“The girls really recognise they have access to world class facilities here and part of the reason to invite other people is that they’re really proud and want to share what they have.

“They had a showjumping lesson from a showjumping coach and a former international showjumper, which was a great opportunity.”

The girls stayed on Saturday night with the Stonar pupils, and went out to Melksham for ten-pin bowling, as well as joining in with pancake races and other activities.

Mr Scaife said: “On the Sunday we had a morning in the yard and then we went for a big ride in the countryside. We came back and had lunch together and they said their goodbyes.

“They had a really brilliant time, I think. The great thing about this sort of thing is that you get people from two completely different sides of the social scale, they have ponies to talk about and they’re away.

“Our girls had a really good time and they have been invited to Brixton in April to share the experience.”

Mr Scaife added that the school would be looking to arrange similar events in the future.