Poppy Pathways

Poppy Pathways Helping young people find their way.

🐴 Your questions answered!We get a lot of questions about the programme so we thought it was time to put together a quic...
28/09/2026

🐴 Your questions answered!
We get a lot of questions about the programme so we thought it was time to put together a quick FAQ. Hopefully this helps!

- What age range do you work with?
We work with young people aged 6 to 25.

- How do I make a referral?
Simply get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] and we will take it from there.

- How long are the sessions?
A full time placement with us is 15 hours per week. We can be flexible on this so if you need something different please just get in touch and we can chat it through.

- Do young people need riding experience?
Not at all! We welcome complete beginners right through to advanced riders. No experience is necessary to join the programme.

- How many young people are in each session?
This varies depending on the needs of the individual. Some of our young people work on a 1-2-1 basis and others work in small groups of up to four people.

- Where are you based?
We are based at Boughton Mill Equestrian Centre, Welford Road, Chapel Brampton, NN6 8AB.

If you have a question we have not answered here, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are always happy to have a chat! 🌸

📧 [email protected]

🐴 Why equine assisted learning?Equine assisted learning uses horses and animals to support young people who may be strug...
26/09/2026

🐴 Why equine assisted learning?

Equine assisted learning uses horses and animals to support young people who may be struggling emotionally, socially or in a traditional school setting.

Horses are honest, sensitive animals. They respond to how you show up in the moment with no judgment and no agenda. For young people who find the world overwhelming, that simplicity is really powerful.

What we see at Poppy Pathways is that time spent with horses builds things that are hard to teach in a classroom. Confidence, patience, trust and self belief. And most of the time the young people are just too busy enjoying themselves to even notice it happening.

That is why we do what we do. 🌸

23/09/2026

💕 I’d love to introduce the new members of the team.
Rumble, Tumble and Bumble!

They really are just adorable. 🥰

🌸 School avoidance is more common than many people realise.It is not laziness. It is not bad parenting. And it is rarely...
23/09/2026

🌸 School avoidance is more common than many people realise.

It is not laziness. It is not bad parenting. And it is rarely as simple as a young person just not wanting to go to school. For many young people, school avoidance is rooted in anxiety, overwhelm, difficult experiences, or simply feeling like they do not fit anywhere.

At Poppy Pathways we work with young people who find traditional education settings really difficult. And what we see time and time again is that when you take away the pressure of a classroom and replace it with fresh air, animals and a space where there are no wrong answers - something shifts.

Young people who have struggled to leave the house find themselves walking into a yard. Young people who have found it hard to engage find themselves grooming a horse, feeding a goat, or picking up a camera and creating something they are genuinely proud of.

It does not happen overnight. But it happens. And that is why this work matters so much to us.

If you are supporting a young person who is struggling with school avoidance and you think Poppy Pathways could help, please get in touch. We would love to have a chat.

📧 [email protected]

💛🌸

🌸 A huge thank you to everyone who refers young people to Poppy Pathways.We wanted to take a moment to recognise the tea...
21/09/2026

🌸 A huge thank you to everyone who refers young people to Poppy Pathways.

We wanted to take a moment to recognise the teachers, SENCOs, social workers, support workers, and parents who take the time to reach out and explore whether Poppy Pathways could help a young person in their care.

Referring a young person to an alternative provision takes thought, care and trust. And we never take that trust lightly. Every referral we receive is handled with the utmost sensitivity and every young person who comes through our gates is treated as an individual with their own unique needs, strengths and story.

We are so grateful for the partnerships we have built with schools and professionals across Northamptonshire. Working together is what makes the biggest difference for the young people we support and we genuinely could not do what we do without you.

If you are thinking about referring a young person to Poppy Pathways or would simply like to find out more about what we offer, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are always happy to have an informal chat before any formal referral is made.

📧 [email protected]

💛🌸

💛 From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.Poppy Pathways is still a relatively new chapter for us here at MA Equestrian...
19/09/2026

💛 From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Poppy Pathways is still a relatively new chapter for us here at MA Equestrian and yet the support we have received already has been the most incredible thing.

To every family who has trusted us with their young person, thank you. Allowing us into your world and believing in what we do means everything.

To every school, SENCO, social worker and support professional who has reached out, referred, or simply taken the time to find out more, thank you. Your belief in the power of this kind of provision makes such a difference.

To the British Horse Society and Burghley Horse Trials for their incredible generosity and support, thank you. Opportunities like the ones you have helped us give our young people are truly priceless.

And to everyone who has followed our journey, shared our posts, and cheered us on from afar, thank you too. It means more than you know.

Poppy Pathways exists because of a little horse who changed my life. And it grows because of every single one of you who believes in what we are trying to do. 🌸

With so much love and gratitude,
Molly-Ann
Founder, Poppy Pathways at MA Equestrian

🌿 There is something about being outside that just helps.Last week, our young people were out in the fresh air walking o...
14/09/2026

🌿 There is something about being outside that just helps.

Last week, our young people were out in the fresh air walking our pygmy goats and honestly it was a joy to watch. Simple, calm and really lovely to see.

We talk a lot about the benefits of working with horses at Poppy Pathways but actually any time spent outdoors with animals does so much good. Research consistently shows that spending time in nature reduces stress and anxiety, improves mood and helps young people feel more grounded and regulated. Add an animal into the mix and those benefits go even further.

Handling and walking the goats requires patience, a calm energy and a gentle approach. For young people who find the world loud and overwhelming, that quiet focus on an animal who simply responds to how you show up is really powerful.

📸 Cameras out today at Poppy Pathways!Our young people spent today doing some photography work around the yard and with ...
08/09/2026

📸 Cameras out today at Poppy Pathways!

Our young people spent today doing some photography work around the yard and with the horses. It was lovely to watch them take their time, find their shots and get creative.

It is amazing what a camera in your hand can do. Getting outside, being around the horses and focusing on something creative is such a great combination for young people. It encourages them to slow down, be present and really notice the world around them. Things that can be really hard when life feels overwhelming.

We think you will agree the results are pretty impressive. We are so proud of them all. 💛

🌸 September is Su***de Awareness Month, and this one is close to our hearts at Poppy Pathways.At Poppy Pathways we work ...
04/09/2026

🌸 September is Su***de Awareness Month, and this one is close to our hearts at Poppy Pathways.

At Poppy Pathways we work with young people who face some of life’s most difficult challenges every single day. We know how hard things can get. And we know that sometimes the darkness can feel completely overwhelming.

This month we want to use our platform to raise awareness, to remind every young person and every family in our community that struggling is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign that you need and deserve support. And support is out there.

If you are worried about a young person, or if a young person is worried about themselves, please reach out. Early support makes an enormous difference.

Helpful resources for young people and families:

📞 PAPYRUS HopelineUK (under 35s) — call 0800 1022470 or text hope to 88247
📞 Childline — call 0800 1111 (free, 24 hours)
📞 Young Minds — www.youngminds.org.uk
📞 Samaritans — call 116 123 (free, 24 hours)
📞 Mind — www.mind.org.uk

At Poppy Pathways we are proud to offer a safe, calm, and non-judgmental space where young people can simply be themselves. If you think a young person in your life could benefit from what we do, please do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]

Please share this post. You never know who might need to see it today. 💛🌸

***deAwarenessMonth ***dePreventionDay

🌟 What an incredible day we had yesterday at Burghley Horse Trials!As part of our Poppy Pathways Alternative Provision p...
04/09/2026

🌟 What an incredible day we had yesterday at Burghley Horse Trials!

As part of our Poppy Pathways Alternative Provision programme at MA Equestrian, we had the most wonderful opportunity to take some of our young people to Burghley Horse Trials.

Watching our young people experience Burghley for the first time was truly heartwarming. Some of them really stepped outside of their comfort zones yesterday and the smiles on their faces said everything. Moments like these are exactly why this provision exists.

A huge thank you to Defender Burghley Horse Trials for so generously providing the tickets for our young people. Your kindness in supporting the next generation means more than we can say. And a very special thank you to the British Horse Society for organising this wonderful experience. It is through partnerships like this that our young people get opportunities they may never have had otherwise. 🌟🐴

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MA Equestrian, Welford Road
Northampton
NN68AB

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