Amanda Shirtcliffe logo Amanda Shirtcliffe Partner
Amanda Shirtcliffe on her mobility scooter in the arena with Ride High children in branded hoodies and a dark horse

Home / Giving back

Giving back

Horses gave Amanda her life back. As patron of Ride High, she helps them do the same for children in Milton Keynes.

Ride High logo Patron, Ride High

A charity close to home

Ride High is a Milton Keynes charity that uses horses to reach children facing poverty, neglect, abuse, isolation and poor mental health. Through riding, horse care and time at the yard, those children grow into happy, confident young people.

Founded in 2008 by Rachel Medill MBE, the charity runs from Ride High Equestrian Centre in Loughton, Milton Keynes. Children are referred by schools, social workers, GPs and mental health teams, and come free of charge.

The courtyard and stables at Ride High Equestrian Centre, Milton Keynes

The difference it makes

374children supported in a single record year (2025)
97%of children say they look forward to coming each week
2,000+children helped since the charity began

Over half of the children Ride High supported in 2025 improved their school attendance, and 95% said they felt able to talk about their worries. More than 100 children are on the waiting list. Figures from Ride High.

Amanda’s role as patron

Amanda knows first-hand what time with horses can do when life gets hard. After her dystonia diagnosis, getting back in the saddle is what kept her going. That’s the same power Ride High puts to work for children every week.

“I am proud to have been asked to be a patron of Ride High. Ride High is a truly inspirational charity and it is wonderful to see how our equestrian friends enrich the lives of vulnerable children.”

As patron, Amanda visits the yard, meets the children and helps raise the charity’s profile across the equestrian world. She shows young people that a setback doesn’t have to be the end of the story.

In August 2026, for National Racehorse Week, children from Ride High came to Amanda’s yard to learn about Thoroughbreds and life after racing, and to meet her horse Timmy. In Amanda’s words: “Turns out Tiny Timmy is quite the people person.”

Graze and Gather for Good

In summer 2024 Amanda championed Ride High’s Graze and Gather for Good campaign. Yards and riders across the region hosted coffee mornings and picnics with their ponies, all to fund term-long sessions for children on the waiting list.

“Ride High is a wonderful charity and I’ve witnessed first-hand the impact they have on young lives. You don’t have to ask me twice to gather friends and eat cake! I’m delighted to support Ride High and urge everyone else to do the same.”

Two women enjoying a cake picnic on the grass beside two grazing black horses for Graze and Gather for Good
Graze and Gather for Good, 2024.
Amanda with Ride High children and staff in the arena
Amanda with Ride High children and staff at the yard.

Help Ride High

Every pound goes towards getting another child off the waiting list and into the saddle.

Donate

One-off or monthly gifts fund sessions, horse care and trips.

Make a donation

Sponsor a child

£1,500 funds a child for a term. £4,500 covers a full year.

Sponsor a child

Volunteer

Help on the yard, in the clubroom or at events.

Volunteer

For businesses

Charity of the Year, team volunteering days and payroll giving.

How companies can help

More ways Amanda gives back

Amanda got into para sport because other people opened the door for her. Now she holds it open for the next rider.

Para Equestrian Foundation mentor

It was the Para Equestrian Foundation and its founder Di Green who first put Amanda in a carriage, the start of her second international career.

As a rider mentor she gives back to the people coming through behind her. A decade on the British para pathway gives her a lot to pass on: classification, finding the right horse and equipment, the step up from national to international, and handling competition nerves. She remembers her own first ride back after diagnosis: “I was absolutely bricking it.”

  • Supports new para riders and drivers
  • Runs the Para Equestrian Training Hub
  • Introduced Amanda to para driving
Para Equestrian Foundation

RDA dressage judge

The Riding for the Disabled Association has helped disabled people ride, drive and vault since 1969. For many RDA riders a dressage test is their first taste of competition, and the judge’s comments are what they take home.

Amanda is a qualified RDA dressage judge and has trained as a British Dressage judge. She has sat on both sides of the judge’s box, so her marks come with understanding of what it took to ride that test.

  • Over 39,000 disabled children and adults supported each year
  • The Princess Royal has been President since 1985
  • National Championships every summer
Riding for the Disabled Association

Businesses that back Amanda can link their brand to this work too, with joint content, yard visits and Ride High fundraising tie-ins. Partner with Amanda