Last updated 10:56, Friday, 15 February 2008

HORSE enthusiast Louise Lyon is planning to open a trekking school in Flimby.

Louise, 27, of Sandy Lonning, Maryport, has bought a field in Flimby and a pack of ponies for people to share her passion.

She also hopes to offer therapy sessions for troubled and disadvantaged youngsters who would benefit from bonding with the animals.

Louise said: “We’ve bought a field on the bridleway in Flimby.

“We can trek the bridleways and get into the woods to do some really nice riding away from the roads.

“There are a lot of visitors that come to Maryport now, with the aquarium and such like.”

Louise intends to submit a planning application to Allerdale council next month.

She hopes to win approval for a couple of stables and an all-weather training school.

Louise, who has been a big fan of all things equestrian since she was a little girl, currently has eight horses.

They include a prized showjumper and two horses which she uses for a horse-drawn carriage wedding business set up three years ago.

She added: “Whether people are returning to riding or wanting to take it up for the first time, we’ve got some really nice horses for them to ride.

“We also hope to go into equine psychotherapy for troubled kids or those with drug problems.

“There are a lot of courses where they learn to look after the horses. They realise the horses rely on them to look after them and it helps them to progress.”