What has 256 legs, 64 tails, 128 eyes and one huge fan club?

That would be the horses and ponies of Penshaw Equestrian Centre.

Over the past three decades they've taught countless children and adults to ride and on Sunday, June 29 they'll be tucking into a big slice of birthday carrot cake.

The Equestrian Centre opened in 1978 when Sunderland man Matt Roseberry decided to build a future for his horse-mad daughter, Joanne.

Together the family built up Roseberry Leisure and a portfolio which includes pubs, restaurants, hotels and the Rainton Meadows Arena conference and banqueting centre.

The British Horse Society (BHS)-approved centre has flourished with the support of the local community: about 700 people come through the gates each week to ride.

Despite being blighted by severe arthritis from a young age, Joanne has continued to run the centre with manager Susanne Butler and assistant manager Sarah Hillam.

Joanne said: "We started with five horses and built it up. We have 64 now, 30 riding school horses, 28 liveries and six competition horses.
"We're still here because we have high standards. We're BHS-approved which is important because riding is a risk sport."

Situated in the middle of Penshaw Village, it's overlooked by Penshaw Monument and a few minute's ride to Herrington County Park.

As well as riding lessons, the centre runs summer riding holidays and training for Pony Club tests to encourage its pupils to be the best they can.

Joanne said: "There are lots of different avenues into the horse world. The summer camps are good because it's three months of riding lessons in a week so the children improve very quickly.

"Horse riding is such a good way to keep fit and it's none-weight bearing so people with joint problems can still manage it. It's very therapeutic."

Sadly, riding is out for Joanne, but her interest in horses is undiminished.

She said: "I've always had a strong interest and still go to shows though I haven't ridden since I was 25 because of the arthritis."

Joanne was diagnosed with arthritis at the age of nine and underwent her first hip replacement at 26: she has since had both hips and both knee joints replaced.

Despite the crippling pain, Joanne has kept her sense of humour and refers to herself as the "bionic woman."

She said: "I used to just ride and suffer. The staff would keep my horse fit and I would just jump on to compete and be crippled for the next week.

"I can't be involved physically but I still have input and work on the organisation side of things.

"My three nieces, Jordan, Lauren and Emily are all really interested and I like to see how they're getting on."

The centre has 16 staff who are all equally dedicated to good horse sense.

Assistant manager Sarah Hillam, 26, swapped a "nine to five and boring!" office job to join the centre.

Sarah, who stables her mare Tiggy at the yard, said: "Every day is different. It's really satisfying to watch a beginner go into their first group lesson."

Manager Susanne Butler, from Southwick, is just as enthusiastic.
She said: "I like to see the people I teach go out and compete. With the horses I like to be hands-on, lunging, breaking and schooling – things like that.

"We have a really good team here and all our staff enjoy different parts of horse riding so we cover a wide range of groups."

As Joanne's father originally wanted, the centre has become a future for his daughter, and much more than just a business.

Joanne said: "I hope the centre will be here for another 30 years.
"It's part of our family and it's here for my sanity!

"My favourite thing is watching the tots on a weekend – that's what I work for."

Read more in today's Echo