Eat Sleep Ride is a Scottish charity at Quarry Farm, Lamberton, East Berwickshire — a solar-powered, off-grid equine sanctuary on 24 acres of reclaimed coastal farmland, just off the A1 and accessible from Edinburgh, the Lothians, the Borders and Northumberland.
Once landfill, the site has been restored by volunteers into gardens, growing space, woodland, wildlife ponds and stabling, and is home to a herd of rescue horses.
We harness the power of horses to transform lives and build futures. We exist so that no person, place or animal is written off.
Eighty per cent of the people we work with have a physical or mental disability, or live with someone who does.
Our charitable work
Youth empowerment — accredited awards, mentoring, youth club, leadership experiences, alternative education placements and work experience, with ABRS and BHS progression pathways.
Equine therapy and wellbeing — horse-guided sessions supporting emotional regulation, confidence and recovery from trauma.
Family and community support — volunteering, seasonal events, funded and open-access sessions, and consultation work that helps communities connect and be heard.
Environmental stewardship — rewilding, food growing, solar power, polytunnel and biodiversity projects on restored land.
Horse welfare — refuge, rehabilitation and carefully matched rehoming for at-risk and unwanted horses, with ongoing welfare checks and advice.
Leadership and organisational development
Herd Dynamics — our equine-assisted leadership practice for businesses, public bodies and third sector organisations. Working with the herd, teams and leaders explore shared leadership, communication, trust and the gap between what they project and what they actually convey.
Corporate away days and team building — half and full day programmes on site, combining ground-based work with the horses, facilitated reflection and use of our gardens, yurts and campfire space.
Equine-assisted coaching — one-to-one leadership coaching using the horses as feedback, developing self-awareness, presence and communication.
Speaking Horse — a ground-based session in leadership and communication, available as an experience or a gift voucher.
Youth leadership — accredited leadership pathways for young people, including peer mentoring, event hosting and running sessions for younger participants.
Commissioned training and consultation — practical, relational training delivered on site or with partner organisations.
Danielle McKinnon is a licensed practitioner of the TeachingHorse Diamond Model, trauma-informed certified, and holds Equine Coaching Level 8 and BHS Stage 4.
Riding and equine services
Riding school — private and group lessons from age 4, hacks, beach rides and pony walks. Licensed riding establishment, ABRS-approved, BHS-accredited coaches. Neurodiversity, anxiety, low confidence and disability supported.
Equine services — schooling, retraining, lunging, clipping, plaiting, exercise riding, Equine Touch therapy, sales and livery (DIY, part, full and schooling).
Arena hire — quality surfaces and lighting, for individual schooling, clinics, clubs and training events.
BHS exam preparation — structured training towards British Horse Society exams up to Stage 4.
Visit, stay and celebrate
Retreats — Reflect & Restore day retreats combining yoga, horse-led reflection, nature connection and creativity, with a farm-to-fork lunch. Sauna on site.
Camping and craft yurts — stays on a quiet off-grid site with sea views, open to individuals, families and groups.
Event space and venue hire — yurts, gardens, arena and campfire space for workshops, celebrations, away days and community gatherings. Fully accessible and nature-inspired.
Gardens and growing — sensory garden, growing space and polytunnel, with produce shared into the local community.
Visitor experiences — Speaking Horse sessions, Equine Connection Experience for two, guided grooming and horse care, farm days and gift vouchers.
Pony parties — birthday and celebration packages from 2 to 4 hours, with supervised pony rides and hands-on activities for children.
Community events — seasonal parties at Easter, Halloween and through the summer, bushcraft and nature skills days, craft workshops, Pony Days and open-access family events, most of them free or subsidised.
Every visit, stay and booking supports our charitable work with young people, families and horses.
Volunteering and WWOOFing
Volunteering runs right through Eat Sleep Ride, and it is how many of our team arrived. Twenty-five volunteers aged 12 to 73 are currently active, alongside international WWOOF volunteers who live on site.
Local volunteering — horse care and yard work, gardening and growing, site maintenance and building, event support, and helping at youth sessions. Young people can earn Saltire Awards, and volunteers can progress into accredited training, mentoring roles and paid sessional work.
WWOOFing — we host World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms volunteers, who stay on site and work roughly 24 hours a week in exchange for accommodation and food. WWOOFers work across the growing garden, polytunnel, rewilding and habitat work, horse care and site projects, and become part of the community while they are here.
What volunteers get — funded training in youth work, safeguarding and mental health where relevant, PVG membership, real responsibility, and a route into work for those who want one.
People arrive here for support and stay to give it.
Accreditations and standards
Scottish Borders Council licensed riding establishment. Association of British Riding Schools approved. British Horse Society accredited coaches. Trauma-Informed Trust members. Real Living Wage employer. Approved apprenticeship centre with the Scottish Racing Academy.
