You could say Marion Stanley has the best of both worlds.

By day, the sales executive dons business suits to work in the pressurised world of IT, but come the weekend, she pulls on her jodhpurs and boots for some precious time with her horses.

They’ve been a part of Marion’s life for 40 years. She has owned horses since she was nine, so when the opportunity came up in March for her and husband Phil to buy the Thackley riding school and livery stables where they stabled their horses, they swiftly seized it.

Marion and Phil, an energy consultant, wanted to keep their day jobs, so they drafted in Kris Redsell, of Baildon, to become full-time yard manager at Birkhill Farm.

The couple feed and water the horses before heading off to work, then hand over the reins to Kris.

Kris previously worked as part of a technology team, developing control systems for a nuclear chemical plant.

She met the couple after taking her daughter, Sophie, to Birkhill for riding lessons. “I’d been up here supporting her and helping out with the horses,” says Kris.

Kris loved the interaction with the children too, and being around horses brought her and Sophie great benefit.

“They are very therapeutic,” says Kris, who has been known to serenade the animals with songs from Britain’s Got Talent.

Kris explains singing to a nervous horse is her technique for calming it down. She often breaks out into song when taking the horses in to the field on a morning. “And they like it!” she laughs.

Kris works alongside Birkhill’s two instructors, Donna Fitzgerald and Ellie White, who are both qualified to the British Horse Society Stage 3.

During the holidays, Kris and Donna organise ‘Own A Pony’ days where youngsters can learn how to groom and care for a steed. They are also planning birthday parties for children to have a riding lesson and a birthday cake. Pub rides are designed for adult riders to enjoy a ride out with the opportunity for refreshment.

Ten of the school’s 24 horses were family pets – three of the ponies belonged to Marion and Phil’s children, who are also involved in the running of the yard.

George, a shire cross thoroughbred, was Marion’s wedding present to Phil, and Charlie is Marion’s thoroughbred cross.

Welsh pony O’Neill, christened to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s moon walk, and Murphy, a friendly hand-reared orphan, are some of the latest arrivals at Birkhill Farm.

Says Marion: “For me, it is a complete break from the pressurised environment. I love children and being in the yard and we have a great social scene.”

* Craven College run courses in equine studies. For more information, call (01274) 791411. To find out more about Birkhill Farm e-mail info@birkhillfarm. co.uk