Horses help University of Buckingham students harness their inner calm ahead of exams

The visit gave the students a welcome chance to get out into the countryside and interact with a number of the most gentle, wonderful ponies. An afternoon for them to put their studies to one side for a while, to become calmer ahead of exams and an opportunity to recharge the batteries.

The students visited the Bryerley Springs Equestrian Centre, Great Brickhill.

The session was expertly led by Gillian St. Ledger Smith, Deputy Chair of the Friends of the University and Equine Consultant and Instructor at the Centre. The session started with students learning how to read a pony's body language and keeping safe around a pony. The students subsequently walked ponies, groomed ponies, learnt how to make a quick release knot and also how to saddle a horse.

English Literature student Panawala Dhrumi said the visit was so informative, so much fun, so theraputic, a huge, huge thank you to the Friends for organising.

MBA student Nupur Makwana said it was so relaxing, we get to know the ponies, a very welcome break from studying.

MBA student Divya Jacob who is in her final term and had a dissertation to make the very next day said 'She had been really looking forward to this visit, always fascinating, so good to be very close to the ponies. It has been given me a good relaxation, and feeling the calmness round the animals has helped me calm myself before my dissertation tomorrow, thank you so much to the Friends.'

The Friends of the University are grateful for the sponsorship of this event by the Buckingham and Villages Community Board.

The Friends of the University of Buckingham welcomes new members and has seen a significant uptake in membership in the last two years, welcoming more than one hundred new members in that time.

In the course of their work helping students, members can enjoy interacting with students, are invited to a number of excellent university talks, enjoy a wide range of social events and are able to have a much closer connection with their University.