Job posting: Operations Manager

The Cavalier Centre (Much Wenlock) is hiring!

Are you a dynamic hands-on manager with a passion for horses, people and purpose-driven work? Join our team at the Cavalier Centre, where lives are changed every day through the power of horses.

We are looking for an experienced operations Manager to oversee the smooth running of our day to day activities and ensure the best possible experience for our participants.

This is a varied and rewarding role at the heart of a welcoming community of staff, volunteers, riders and horses.

The role requires 40 hours a week including some weekend work, salary circa £30,000+ dependent on experience

What you will be doing:

Managing the daily operations of the centre and ensuring everything runs safely and smoothly

Working with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers

Planning rotas, managing facilities and ensuring compliance

Planning and enhancing the participant experience

Telling our story to inspire supporters, attract more participants and grow our impact

What we are looking for:

Strong organisational and leadership skills

Experience managing people and day to day operations

Confidence working around horses

A proactive flexible and positive approach

Passion for inclusive community-driven work

Experience in the charity, equine or care sector is a plus – but most of all, we’re looking for someone who can keep things running on the ground whilst sharing the magic of what we do with an increasing number of participants.

Download the full job description here: Cavalier Centre Operations Manager Job Description May 2025

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to barkerj667@gmail.com by Tuesday 20^th May 2025.

Well done to our competitors – RDA Virtual Nationals

We want to say a massive congratulations to all of our riders who took part in the RDA Virtual National Championships back in September. They did the Centre proud and we’re so thrilled with their participation! Well done everyone. The full results are now in:

Class 10 – Dressage Grade 6 Walk and Trot Open Senior

2^nd place: Blossom Burton, riding Star, 71.94%

Class 12 – Dressage Grade 6 Canter Open Junior

1^st place: Georgia Halliwell-Paget, riding Heston, 66.47%

Class 16 – Dressage Grade 7 Walk and Trot Open Senior

1^st place: Diane Field, riding Manny, 66.66%

Class 19a – Dressage Led (Walk Only) Junior

13^th place: Claire Howes, riding Star, 63.57%
15^th place: Sienna Lewis-Richards, riding Heston, 61.67%

Class 19a – Dressage Led (Walk Only) Senior

8^th place: Emily Bridges, riding Theo, 65.95%

Class 31a – Countryside Challenge Led or One Side Walker Junior

12^th place: Claire Howes, riding Star, 73.93%
13^th place: Sienna Lewis-Richards, riding Archie, 72.50%

Class 32a – Countryside Challenge Independent Senior

10^th place: Julie King, riding Star, 78.57%
17^th place: Emily Bridges, riding Theo, 70.00%

Class 32b – Countryside Challenge Independent Open Junior

1^st place: Florence Giles, riding Heston, 85%
3^rd place: Ellie Forester, riding Star, 74.64%

Class 54 – Vaulting Individual Level B1 Barrel Freestyle Only

3^rd place: Ava Oliver, 6.331
5^th place: River-May Foulkes, 5.833

Class 55 – Vaulting Individual Level B2 Pre-Novice Compulsories/Barrel Freestyle

1^st place: Asini Wharton, 7.125
2^nd place: Alice Griffiths, 5.533

Results for the 2024 RDA National Championships

We had a very successful weekend at the RDA National Championships in Hartpury. The full results are below. We also celebrated Georgia H-P winning the RDA’s Young Volunteer of the Year trophy presented by HRH The Princess Royal. Congratulations to all our competitors and horses.

We are incredibly thankful to our participants, ponies, volunteers, coaches, photographers, and team for making all of this happen. We’re so proud of you all!

The full results were:

Friday

RDA Young Volunteer of the Year

Georgia H-P

Novice Carriage Driving

4th – Matthew P driving Jack
6th – Peter H driving Jack
10th – Cheryl N driving a borrowed horse

Saturday

Showjumping Level 3

4th – Alison M riding Star

Grade 6 Walk Trot Dressage

4th – Dennie N riding Star (junior)
9th – Blossom B riding Star (Senior)
12th – Georgia H-P riding Heston (Junior)

Grade 6 Canter Dressage

1st and class champion – Alison M riding Star

Countryside Challenge – Independent

2nd – Georgia H-P riding Heston (Junior)
8th – Ellie F riding Star (Senior)

Best Turned Out Junior

2nd – Georgia H-P riding Heston

Best Turned Out Senior

3rd – Blossom B riding Star

Sunday

Grade 6 Walk Dressage

2nd – Louise W riding Star

Open Grade 6 Walk Dressage

1st and Class Champion – Romily E riding Star

Grade 7 Walk Trot

2nd – Diane F riding Star

Grade 7 Walk trot Freestyle

1st and Class Champion – Diane F riding Star

Countryside Challenge led or 1 side walker

2nd – Florence G riding Heston

Best Turned Out Junior

2nd – Florence G riding Heston

Highest placed RDA West Mercia member in Horse Care and Knowledge

Florence G

Trophy for the best Leader or Side walker in the Countryside Challenge

Annabel Bolton

Photographs available for download here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AXz1xWouQ54rxNNZfoFXkFvi36QVKa_B?usp=sharing

Official photographs for download (payment required) here: https://michaelmartin.co.uk/photos/events-2024/rda-2024-55th-anniversary/

Results for the Wenlock Olympian Games

What a wonderful day we had on Saturday for the Wenlock Olympian Games. As our founder Jane Barker said: “The ponies looked super, the volunteers, as always, are the best and the participants all looked amazingly smart. Well done to you all. A great success!”

Thank you to everyone who competed, to our volunteers and coaches for all their hard work, and to the team for putting it all together. And thank you too to our photographers, and to Helen from the Wenlock Olympian Games committee who presented the rosettes and medals.

The full results were:

Dressage

Senior Independent Walk Only

Ellie F, riding Theo – 2nd place
Delphine W, riding Star – 1st place

Senior Independent Walk & Trot

Di F, riding Sion – 1st place

Senior Led Walk Only

Emily B, riding Theo – 1st place

Junior Independent Walk & Trot

Jessica F, riding Finn – 1st place

Junior Led Walk Only

Sienna L-R, riding Archie – 2nd place
River-May F, riding Heston – 1st place

Senior Medals: Delphine W (Gold), Diane F (Silver), Ellie F (Bronze)
Junior Medals: River-May F (Gold), Sienna L-R, (Silver), Jessica M (Bronze)

Vaulting

Alice G – 1st place & gold medal
Lauren N – 2nd place & silver medal
Evie N – 3rd place & bronze medal
River-May F – 4th place
Michael S-G – 5th place
Ava O – 6th place
Claire H – 7th place
Ianthe P – 8th place

Countryside Challenge

Senior Independent

Julie K, riding Star – 1st place
Ellie F, riding Sion – 2nd place

Senior Led

Emily B, riding Theo – 1st place

Junior Independent

Florence G, riding Heston – 1st place
Jessica M, riding Finn – 2nd place

Junior Led

Sienna L-R, riding Archie – 1st place

Senior Medals: Emily B (Gold), Julie K (Silver), Ellie F (Bronze)
Junior Medals: Florence G (Gold), Jessica M, (Silver), Sienna L-R (Bronze)

Photographs available for download here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17gfGAQaHke_w9FLP2NVBprf6ah0Aoy4v?usp=sharing

Well done to our competitors – RDA Regional Championships

We want to say a massive congratulations to all of our riders who took part in the RDA Regional Championships last weekend. They did the Centre proud and we’re so thrilled with their participation! Well done everyone. The full results are now in:

Class 115 – Dressage Grade 6 Walk

Delphine Wise, riding Star – 71.18%
Louise Wright, riding Theo – 67.05% 2^nd place – qualified for Nationals
Romilly Esp, riding Sion – 67.35% 1^st place (in open class) – qualified for Nationals

Class 80 – Dressage Grade 6 Walk & Trot, Junior and Senior

Junior section

Georgia Halliwell-Paget, riding Archie – 64.17% 2^nd Place – qualified for Nationals
Dennie Neal- 68.05%, riding Star – 1^st Place – qualified for Nationals

Senior section

Blossom Burton, riding Theo – 60.83% 1^st Place – qualified for Nationals

Class 119 – Dressage Grade 7 Walk & Trot

Diane Field, riding Sion – 73.33% 1^st place – qualified for Nationals

Class 53 – Dressage Grade 1

Jacqueline Doughton, riding Sion – 64.05% 1^st Place – qualified for Nationals

Class 82 – Dressage Grade 6 Canter

Alison Moore, riding Star – 67.06% 1^st Place – qualified for Nationals

Class 8 – Countryside Challenge Led or 1 side walker

Florence Giles, riding Heston – 2nd place – qualified for Nationals
Arthur, riding Star – 4th place

Class 11 – Countryside Challenge Independent

Senior

Ellie Forester, riding Theo – 2nd place – qualified for Nationals

Junior

Georgia Halliwell-Paget, riding Archie – 2nd place – qualified for Nationals

Hosting the RDA Carriage Driving Regionals

On Saturday 27th April, for the second year running the Cavalier Centre’s Carriage Driving Group ran a Regional Qualifiers competition leading up to the RDA National event in July. Seven drivers participated supported by four of the driving coaches (Penny, Gina, Ann and Julie) plus the wider driving team to keep the show on the road!

The results were Cheryl 1st (Qualifier), Pete 2nd (Reserve), Matt 3rd (2nd Reserve) all 3 will go the Nationals, Andrew 4th, Anna 5th, Fiona 6th and Steve 7th. Results were close and for all but two of the drivers it was their first competition!

The Val Fisher Endeavour Trophy was awarded to Hannah and presented by Malcolm Fisher. Hannah was chosen unanimously by all the driving coaches who admire her passion and commitment to driving, her endless cheer and her own funding raising efforts for pancreatic cancer – she is a joy to be with. What’s more she had no idea she was getting the trophy – her smile says it all.

Well done all – you are all winners!

Visit by HRH The Princess Royal to present the Kings Award for Voluntary Service

We were so happy to welcome HRH The Princess Royal back to the Cavalier Centre. She came to present us, along with seven other Shropshire charities, the Kings Award for Voluntary Service. It was such a wonderful morning and brilliant to be able show the Princess how the Centre has grown and introduce her to some of the new programmes, initiatives and activities we’ve undertaken since she was last here in 2019.

Here is a selection of pictures from the day…

Ludlow Charity Race Day

We had great day at Ludlow Races on 21st March! We were the nominated for the charity race day this year – and some of our award-winning volunteers helped serve a spectacular fundraising lunch! They were all incredible and wore bespoke Cavalier Centre aprons sponsored by our friends MyWorkwear.

The funds raised will make a huge difference to the centre and the work we do! We’re so grateful to the committee and team who put the day together, sourced incredible auction lots and made the day such a success! Thank you so much.

Lift & Shift Boot Camp – Wednesday evenings

Lift & Shift at the Cavalier Centre 6:30pm on Wednesday evenings.

Lift and Shift Boot Camp is designed to improve strength, fitness and wellbeing. With over 20 years experience in the health and fitness industry, our coach John Docherty is committed to helping people achieve their goals. John is passionate about accessibility for all in their pursuit of improving their health and well-being.

Come and join John as he pushes you to do more, lift more and build muscle. It’s an exciting, dynamic and fun workout!

If you’d like to know more, please contact Claire or John via email at fitforbookings@gmail.com

Our volunteers win the Kings Award for Voluntary Service!

We’re incredibly excited to let you know that the amazing volunteers at The Cavalier Centre have been honoured with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The Centre will receive the award from Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire. The formal process will include the reading of the citation and passing over of a Certificate and Crystal award signed by His Majesty The King at an event in 2024. As part of the KAVS, two volunteers will be given the opportunity to attend The King’s Garden Party later in the summer.

Selina Graham, The Cavalier Centre’s Chair of Trustees said: “It is not only the very hands-on trustees, but all of our volunteers who provide a totally exceptional and wonderful experience to all the people who take part in our activities. They’re an incredibly dedicated and passionate team who support the Centre and each other, as well as caring for our horses in all weathers, 365 days a year. It’s amazing to see how they provide moments of joy to people of all ages. Their impact cannot be underestimated.

Rachel Lambert-Jones, The Cavalier Centre’s Manager, said: “Every day, when I see how hard our volunteers work, I am inspired by their caring nature and their resilience and dedication. They are truly inspirational. We are grateful to each and every one of them.”

Job posting: Operations Manager

Well done to our competitors – RDA Virtual Nationals

Results for the 2024 RDA National Championships

Results for the Wenlock Olympian Games

Well done to our competitors – RDA Regional Championships

Hosting the RDA Carriage Driving Regionals

Visit by HRH The Princess Royal to present the Kings Award for Voluntary Service

Ludlow Charity Race Day

Lift & Shift Boot Camp – Wednesday evenings

Our volunteers win the Kings Award for Voluntary Service!

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