THE newest residents at Askham Bryan College are settling into their accommodation - with beds of straw, meals from a bucket and an early morning groom with a body brush.

Some 22 horses and ponies have taken up residence in the college's £700,000 purpose-built equestrian centre, which is the focal point for equestrian studies.

For the first time students have the option of bringing their horses with them to the York-based college, so studying the practical side of both the new foundation degree course and the various NVQ and diploma courses can be achieved on site and alongside the theory element.

As well as the stabling, the centre includes indoor and outdoor schools, lecture rooms, demonstration areas and support facilities such as feed and tack rooms, washing and clipping boxes, student locker rooms, offices and toilets.

A cross-country track is the next facility to be developed.

The centre has 120 full and part-time students studying various levels of equestrianism, from the new foundation degrees covering equitation, equine business management and equine rehabilitation, to BTEC first and national diploma courses, and the practically-based NVQ and BHS stage exam preparation courses.

Among the first to take advantage of equestrian centre accommodation is Nicola Dunn of Morley, Leeds. She took her NVQ level two in horse management last year and has just begun her national award in horse management, which incorporates the BHS stage three and preliminary teaching test.

Paddy, her five-year-old liver chestnut gelding, is currently enjoying his new quarters at college.

Fiona McManus of Stockton has also found having her chestnut gelding Wellington on site a great advantage. She is studying for her foundation degree in equine management, which includes a wide range of topics