Urban Equestrian Academy
A former gang member saved by horses now passes on his passion
THE founder of Leicester’s Urban Equestrian Academy credits horses with saving his life. It sounds dramatic, but Freedom Zampaladus, 39, is a former drug dealer and gang leader. Born in one of the most deprived parts of Leicester, his family moved to Antigua when he was 14 and he became a groom at his uncle’s 11-horse racing yard. After the island was struck by a hurricane in 1996, leaving the stables without staff, Freedom took over, gaining his professional trainer’s licence aged 17.
“My uncle gave me my first ever horse — a colt with fantastic bloodlines — because he was too difficult to handle, but I rehabilitated him. With his prize money, I bought my ticket back to the UK to gain more qualifications aged 19.”
At Brooksby Melton College, he was the only black person among 900 students. Freedom impressed so much during his work experience, he was offered a job at one of Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Arabian studs. After two years, loneliness, isolation and racism saw him give up horses and return to his old ways in Leicester.
“When a youth worker asked me to host a community event, I borrowed a riding school horse, boxed them up and took them to the event. It reignited my passion for horses and that’s where the idea for the academy was born,” says Freedom, who launched a pilot project funded by Sport England in April 2017.
As the academy does not have its own premises, Freedom raised money to buy a 15-seater minibus through crowdfunding. He is the only paid full-time staff member and drives round the city, picking up children at youth centres and other stops to take them to their weekly hour-long lesson at local riding schools.
Some 60 six- to 12-year-old children attend Azeezah’s Junior Pony Club session at a cost of £28 per month. The price is kept low by rotating subject matter every week — theory, equine care, yard management and riding — and Freedom teaches everything bar riding. For the latter, the kids are split into three levels of ability. They can also gain certificates from level one to five on a BHS-endorsed assessment program devised by Freedom.
Freedom explains: “There is a massive need for this. My only regret is I didn’t start this earlier. It’s a huge untouched market and has a major impact on community cohesion. It’s lovely to see spontaneous friendships developing between rural and inner-city children. I’m in talks with other riding schools — it would be great to have our programme all over the country.”
There is a 50:50 split between girls and boys and Freedom adapts to demand. He is about to launch Rebel Riders Club for over-12s and runs a host of other schemes and events, also for adults.
Eesa Khan, now 11, was one of the first recruits. His mother Rachel Whitehead says: “Eesa has ADHD and autism and would have been put on tablets for his unmanageable behaviour if it wasn’t for the horses. He was being pulled out of class. He tried martial arts, swimming and various after-school clubs, but he lost interest — he couldn’t focus or stick at anything. He has rarely missed a lesson with the horses, though.
“He has flourished — his social skills are so much better — there’s been such a massive change in him affecting all aspects of his life.
“I don’t know anything about horses and I never thought they could be so beneficial for someone with such complex needs.
“I don’t know what we would do if he couldn’t attend. I never knew the value of horses; I wish all children could have access to them at school.”