President, Patrons & Trustees
President

Her Majesty The Queen
President
“As the proud President of Ebony Horse Club, I am hugely impressed by its work with young people in one of London’s most deprived inner city areas. Learning to ride takes a lot of courage, patience and determination and it allows children to discover inner strengths they never knew they had and, even more importantly, improves their self-confidence. I hope many more children will have the chance to learn to ride with the help of everyone at Ebony Horse Club.”
Her Majesty The Queen, a keen rider, first visited Ebony Horse Club on the occasion of our Annual Awards Ceremony in September 2008. We are hugely honoured that Her Majesty became our President in April 2009. The following year Her Majesty held a reception at Clarence House for supporters of the Ebony Community Riding Centre, which she opened in October 2011. Her Majesty has met children from Ebony Horse Club on several occasions including at the London 2012 Olympics Eventing Test trials in July 2011 and the London International Horse Show at Olympia in December 2012, when Ebony Horse Club was nominated Charity of the Year.
Patrons

Ronke Phillips-Pakenham
Senior Correspondant, ITV News, London
“I am so proud to be a Patron of Ebony Horse Riding Club. It may be a small charity but its impact on youngsters in the local community is immeasurable. The difference the contact with horses makes to each and every child is an absolute pleasure to witness. The look of satisfaction on the children’s faces as they are riding; the discipline and self-respect they attain, and the contact with people and places they would never otherwise come into contact with, is what makes Ebony such a unique and special place.”

Charlotte Steel
Former Member of Great British Eventing Team
“I am very pleased to be a Patron of Ebony Horse Club. It has transformed the lives of so many youngsters in Brixton and nearby areas, and has involved much of the community in a good and positive way.I have always enjoyed working with and helping young people. They have such open minds! They are soaking up the discipline, courage, attention to detail and care of another living creature required like sponges, and have changed and bettered their lives, attitudes and chances as a result of their involvement with Ebony. It is hugely rewarding to feel you are helping to make a difference and giving some young people the chances and choices they deserve.”

Oli Bell
ITV Racing Presenter
“Having seen first hand the superb work that all the team do at Ebony it became apparent very quickly that this was a really special place. The club has a monumental impact on the lives of young men and women from the inner city of London and that should not be underestimated. Through the relationship with horses these young men and women are able to learn so many important characteristics such as respect, discipline, kindness, team spirit and community – many aspects of life that those more fortunate take for granted. In the case of a lot of the young riders that I met when I visited Ebony it was clear that this centre has given them a second family and given them a real sense of purpose. It was genuinely incredibly moving and had a huge impact on my own outlook towards life. To be asked to be a patron is a tremendous honour, one which I am incredibly proud of and I will do as much as I can to help this wonderful organisation. I have a strong feeling that I will learn more from the children then they will from me – in many ways, that is the beauty of Ebony. Everyone is in it together.”

Arthur Vestey
Long Standing Ebony Supporter
I am honored to be a Patron of Ebony Horse Club, a charity which has been close to my heart for many years.
Ebony is a constant in many children’s lives. An ever present, loving, and secure environment offering friendship, support and crucially the opportunity to grow an attachment to some wonderful horses, (as well as plenty of laughs!)
The pride everyone takes in Ebony is clear to see when you visit. The beautifully swept stables, horses being lovingly pampered and warm smiles on everyone’s faces says it all. A truly magical urban oasis, offering wonderful opportunities for local children with an incredible team of staff and volunteers.

Susan Collins
Former Chair of Trustees
Sue has had a long career in the film and TV industry and ran her own production company for 15 years. She now works as a screenwriter. She grew up with horses and competed as a Junior show jumper. She came to EHC as a volunteer before joining the board, charing Ebony for 9 years. She brings her equine experience, as well as creative and business management skills to her role as Patron, along with a deep understanding and appreciation for the work of Ebony.

Khadijah Mellah
Youth Patron
“Khadijah rode at Ebony Horse Club for many years and in 2019, while studying for her A Levels, trained and rode in the Magnolia Cup at Glorious Goodwood on Haverland. Her story made headlines around the world and the documentary, Riding a Dream that followed her journey was watched by millions. She is now studying Engineering at university as well as working as an ambassador for diversity in racing. We are still pleased to see her riding at Ebony whenever she can and she is a fantastic role model for our youngsters.”
Trustees

Julian White
Chairman
Julian White has had a long association with EHC. He is a professional and highly respected horseman and trainer with strong connections in the equine world. He has taught at EHC as a volunteer instructor since the centre opened and taken members on residential and day trips. He has personal experience of overcoming prejudice in the equine world and is especially interested in breaking down stereotypical attitudes. He can help to support those that wish to enter the equine industry and advise our equine staff when required. Having taken the reins as Chairman in 2025, Julian brings a wealth of knowledge to the role as we move into our 30th year.

Clementine Fraser
Vice Chair of Trustees
Clementine has had an exciting and varied career, having worked previously as a journalist Clementine turned her hand to grassroots Eventing, founding The Cotswold Cup alongside two others. Clementine has extensive experience working with small, local charities that have a huge impact on their communities. Alongside this, Clementine is a keen horse woman, and brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as Trustee of Ebony Horse Club, understanding fully the incredible impact that horses can have on young lives.

Basil Fraser
Trustee
Basil has worked in Credit Management for over 35 years and is a registered member of the Credit Management institute. Basil is an active member of his community, having spent 9 years previously as Trustee for a grassroots youth charity in Chiswick. With extensive experience in campaigning for the retention of local services, Basil is incredibly passionate when it comes to helping young people to develop and meet their full potential, actively engaging in opportunities to share the wealth of experience he has gained from his impressive career journey.

Philippa Buchanan
Trustee
Philippa is a finance professional, that has spent most of her time in the UK, working in IT transformation projects in the banking sector. Originally from South Africa, she is mad about all animals. She is a firm believer that all children should have the joy of animals in their lives and it’s this belief in the positive impact that animals have, that was the driver to join EHC.

Dayon Haynes
Trustee
Dayon is an expert in community development and facilities management. With an impressive track record spanning two decades, he has been instrumental in shaping sustainable and thriving communities across South London. He has a deep-rooted passion for community development and his vision has always been to create communities that are not just about buildings, but about the people who live, work, and thrive in them. As a seasoned professional in facilities management Dayon has a keen understanding of the importance of creating and maintaining safe and comfortable environments. His goal is to work to maintaining our EHC community that nurtures young equestrians’ passion for horses; fosters personal growth, and instills values of responsibility, respect, and empathy. Dayon joined EHC to support your people to create lifelong memories and form a strong foundation for the next generation of horse enthusiasts.