'I'm petrified for our future' - Liverpool's inner-city riding school in turmoil

The far-reaching consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are being felt by the entire equine industry, with social enterprises at the heart of communities among those fearing for their future as Britain moves closer to lockdown.

This week should have signalled a significant milestone in the short history of Park Palace Ponies in Liverpool, a not-for-profit inner-city riding school which has been providing riding lessons for children aged between four and ten in the local community for the past three years, but instead their future has been thrown into jeopardy.

Through collaboration with Aintree racecourse, the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust and local primary school St Cleopas, all eight ponies from the riding school were set to parade with former Grand National winner Neptune Collonges and Aintree ambassadors Ruby and Katie Walsh, along with students from St Cleopas, down the backstreets of Liverpool on Wednesday.

The parade was set to feature as part of ITV Racing's now cancelled Grand National coverage next month, with the team at Park Palace excited to showcase the benefits of inner-city riding schools to the nation.

The ponies of Park Palace at the inner-city riding schoolCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Instead, the event was axed after prime minister Boris Johnson announced plans to restrict social gatherings on Monday and, after it was revealed by the government on Wednesday that schools in Britain were to close from Friday, it is feared the staff and ponies at Park Palace will be surplus to requirements, with a reduction in riding lessons meaning a crucial reduction in available funds.

"After three years and a lot of digging in our own back pockets we are finally just about breaking even," said Bridget Griffin, one of five unpaid directors at Park Palace.

"We’ve just about finished the building work and everything was just seeming to be falling into place, then the unthinkable happened.

"I completely understand the gravity of the recent outbreak of coronavirus, but I’m sure I’m not just speaking for myself when I say that I'm petrified for our little inner-city riding school."

What started as a six-month pilot scheme in 2017 has turned into a cornerstone of the local community in Liverpool's Dingle district. Through its work with local schools, Park Palace Ponies has helped put equestrianism on the curriculum, as well as providing riding lessons to thousands of children in one of the most financially impoverished postcodes in the country.

A mix of volunteers and paid workers with the required equine qualifications, many of whom hail from the local area, run the riding lessons, although the coronavirus outbreak has left many fearing for their jobs.

Riding lessons are essential to the success of Park Palace PoniesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We have worked so hard to ensure that Park Palace Ponies is self-sustainable and we have pushed for inner-city riding schools to be in every city," said Griffin.

"For us, the event on Wednesday was hopefully our moment in the spotlight and our chance to prove that our project has been successful and could be rolled out nationally.

"I'm really scared, not only that we may lose Park Palace Ponies, but I’m scared that the children who ride with us may lose their hobby, that our staff might lose their jobs and future careers, and our community might lose such an amazing project. I'm beyond heartbroken and anxious."

She added: "I will do everything in my power, along with my fellow directors, to ensure Park Palace Ponies stays afloat and open for as long as possible.

"Yes, the government may be offering certain grants here and there to help but a more structured approach needs to be taken, not only for social enterprises like ourselves but for all small businesses, all self-employed people, all people on zero-hour contracts. I simply do not know how we are all going to survive, but we must find a way."

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