“IT’S still business as usual,” the owner of St Leonard’s Equestrian Centre at Polson, Launceston, has assured.

Andy Reeve established the riding centre in 1978 and has been offering tuition to adults and children of all abilities ever since.

Andy took the difficult decision at the beginning of 2024 to put the site on the market due to ill health.

He said at the time he did not relish the idea of giving up his beloved centre, but “circumstances require it”, adding: “I’ve been diagnosed with progressive MS, and it is total devastation to me.”

The centre — which is currently on the market — later became the focus of local news when it was announced horses could be replaced by rhinoceroses.

CFTR Trading Ltd, working alongside Care for the Rare Ltd, has applied to Cornwall Council to change the use of the St Leonard’s site, in addition to a zoo licence.

However, while the stables are still on the market, Andy has reminded locals it is still “very much functional”.

He said: “The sale hasn’t been finalised yet so we just have to keep going. We hold lessons from 1pm into the evenings and also support the rugby club by letting them practice on our sand school when needed — we haven’t flooded in 27 years, but it is well known the surrounding area does!”

The centre continues to be family run and has held British Horse Society approved riding establishment status for more than 30 years.

Over the years St Leonard’s has supported the equine community in many ways; from hosting the Launceston Horse Trials, an annual British Eventing (BE) affiliated event, to supplying big screen stars like ‘Flora’ who recently debuted in the gothic horror film ‘The Dreadful’ starring Kit Harrington and Sophie Turner.

To find out more about what is on offer visit st-leonards.ecpro.co.uk