Challenge Anneka revisits riding centre 21 years on
Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre will be celebrating 21 years since they featured on BBC1’s Challenge Anneka later this year.
The west London Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) centre was helped by Anneka Rice and her team to build an indoor school at the centre.
To mark the anniversary of the programme, the centre will be holding a reunion party on Saturday 26 September.
Anneka and Clare Balding will host the event. It will feature a special screening of the original programme, a display from current riders at the group and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
Anneka and Clare will also ride around a recently completed outdoor trail at the centre.
“When I heard that it was 21 years since the programme was made, it seemed like a great opportunity to bring everyone together to celebrate the amazing work of RDA centres like Wormwood Scrubs,” said Clare, who is an ambassador for the RDA.
“[RDA centres] provide riding, carriage driving and hippotherapy to around 28,000 people with disabilities every year.”
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The Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre was founded in 1989.
It has grown from having just three ponies and very basic facilities, to housing an indoor school and stables for the 20 horses and ponies they now own.
“I am thrilled that so many Challenge Anneka projects are celebrating big anniversaries this year,” added Anneka.
“Most of the 60 or so projects are still going strong and this is a busy year for me, going to visit projects up and down the country.
“We had a 25th anniversary party for all the original production team at my home the other week and raised a glass to everyone involved over the years.”
For more information visit: www.wormwoodscrubsponycentre.org
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.