Cambridgeshire College RDA: Meet the horses

Our horses live at the College of West Anglia where they are also used in lessons for students. They have a varied workload, encompassing all kinds of ridden activities and taking part in lessons in stable management and equine anatomy and physiology. During the college holidays all our horses go out to private homes to have a break.

Below, you can read about our current horses.

Cambs College RDA colonising Hartpury at the National Championships!

Boysie

A firm favourite amongst all the riders, Boysie is willing, capable and kind-hearted, and is our most experienced RDA horse, having won numerous first prizes at the RDA National Champions, in Para dressage, and also winning the final of the RDA SEIB Search for a Star showing championships. He excels in both dressage and show jumping, and is undoubtedly our group’s best asset!

Boysie likes to try and eat anything he thinks might be edible, including the plastic flowers in the Countryside Challenge competition, and he’ll even have a go at rosettes and score sheets.

Rebecca and Boysie at the National Championships 2017

King

A chunky cob who joined our group several years ago now and is a well established member of the team. He came to us from Ireland, having been a hacking horse, he didn’t initially see the point of trotting and cantering in an indoor arena, since there was nowhere to go! However, he’s now turned into quite a smart dressage cob, and also proving to be a steady jumper. He’s broad in the back, which makes our riders feel safe on him.

King with Ryan

Teddy

Teddy came all the way from Somerset after a long search to find a suitable new horse, and now he's established he's a favourite for some of our riders as he's so dependable. He lives up to his name as a cuddly, 10 year old, 15.1hh gelding who fits in well with our group of coloured cobs (they're obviously the best!). He has enormous feet, a steady trot and a comfortable canter.

William riding Teddy in a lesson

Gypsy

Our new horse is a young mare. She arrived in February 2025 but had to have some time off and was not ready to start lessons the summer term.

Gypsy during her Summer break with one of our volunteers

Former horses

Larry who came to us from the Hyde Park riding school in London initially, has now retired from RDA after a long search to find a replacement for him. He has gone to one of our volunteers to enjoy some fun in his golden years.

Blue was a wonderful, big grey horse who was loaned to our group after retiring from a more active live with his owner. Another successful grey was the diminutive 14.2hh pony "Mav" who came to us aged 18, but gave our riders two wonderful years of good service.

Danny was with us for a couple of years but has now been sold on to a lovely home, as he proved to be a little bit too keen for some of our riders.

Sadly, 2018 was also the year when Beethoven had to be put to sleep. He was a gift to the RDA Group from a very generous donor and was solid and reliable in all RDA activities.

In 2018, both Rolo and Bonnie were retired for an easier life. They both gave a huge amount to the RDA Group and are remembered very fondly.

These horses are all greatly missed.