Now in their 7th year of evolving, Clicker Club (for children aged 7-12 years) and Yard Mice (for 13 -16 year olds) are unique programmes, giving children and teenagers the opportunity to learn not only how to care for and handle horses and ponies, but how to train them completely at liberty using reward based training, without the use of restrictive equipment or pressure. We believe we are currently the only centre to offer Positive Reinforcement Training Opportunities such as this within the whole of the UK.
Sessions for those aged 7 – 12 years are held on alternate Saturdays with our Clicker Club Groups, while 13-16 year old members are catered for in our Yard Mice programme.
We run intake sessions throughout the year. To register for information of our next intake day please complete the form here and we will be in touch as soon as we have an available date for you.
Clicker Club (7-12 years)
Clicker Club sessions are 2.5 hrs, with members grouped according to age and previous experience around horses. We take a lot of care to ensure members are in a group they can thrive in, and we keep groups as small as possible (normally 4 children per coach) to make sure everyone has fun while learning.
Activities in each session include:
Practical handling (grooming, leading, fitting equipment)
Training ponies using Positive Reinforcement (this is sometimes known as Clicker Training or Reward based training)
Nine Acres’ Essential skills, which are mastered through regular practise and recognised with a certificate at our Achievement Days, held throughout the year.
Selected topic chosen from the extensive list Hazel has put together from over 20 years of teaching children, from Anatomy and Behaviour to Yard safety and Zebras!
Our Clicker club sessions are £20/ child, and are open to all abilities.
To register interest for an intake day please complete the form here
We will contact you as soon as we have a space available.
Yard Mice (13 -16 year olds)
Yard Mice sessions are for members aged 13 -16 years, who enjoy spending time with horses, being out in the fresh air and generally scurrying around like yard mice do! Sessions run on Saturday mornings, and are a great opportunity to increase your knowledge whilst making new friends, laughing ALOT and gaining practical, hands on experience of caring for horses and ponies.
Our Yard Mice are overseen, taught and supported by the YM coordinator, and assist with all the chores needed to keep the horses happy and healthy in a professional yard on a daily basis. Every week is different, but topics include grooming, handling, arranging equipment and checking it is safe for use, assisting coaches, designing horse turnout areas, poo picking or mucking out, preparing feeds and haynets, and assisting with Equine first aid or health treatments.
To register interest for our next yard Mice intake day, please complete the form here and we will be in touch as soon as we have a suitable space.