STUDENTS on Redcar and Cleveland College's NVQ horse care course have enjoyed a fantastic opportunity to test their riding skills in a competition thanks to the owner of a local riding school.

The competition, which took place at Eston Equitation Centre, saw the students compete in classes for beginners, poles and jumping, preliminary dressage, novice jumping and pony club games.

Elvia Thomson, owner of the centre, agreed to subsidise the costs of the competition by giving the college full use of her yard and horses for the day for a small donation.

The students responded by raising more than £70 towards riding classes for disabled people at both Eston Equitation Centre and Bense Bridge, near Stokesley.

Tutor Maria Parker said: "With the college having no actual horse riding facilities of its own, the access to the horses and facilities at the Eston Equitation Centre has been invaluable.

"Elvia has also given up a lot of her time to tutor the students in handling and riding horses and this has helped them enormously in understanding the practical application of what they learn in the horse care NVQ."