DISADVANTAGED children were treated to a royal visit when Sophie, Countess of Wessex, stopped by at their riding school near Taunton.

The countess was at the Conquest Centre for Disabled Riders at Norton Fitzwarren yesterday (March 21) to meet children, staff and horses.

She spent over half an hour at the centre, which works alongside charity Back on Track, to see how the children’s lives have changed.

Manager Jessica Dixon, who has been involved at the site for 12 years, told the County Gazette: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic that we have someone from the Royal Family that wants to meet the people and see what we do here.

“It’s wonderful how she spent so much time with the children; it will give them a great lift.

“She was so interested in how they were doing, how they were finding it and what they’d learned.”

Sophie talked to Taunton Academy children who are part of the Back on Track scheme, asking how they were enjoying their new hobby and how it was improving their lives.

She also found out about the roles of each staff member and even took a shine to a horse named Forrest . . . who wasn’t even meant to be there.

“Forrest wasn’t meant to be here, but he wanted to be a part of the visit,” Jessica said.

“He jumped over the fence this morning when he wasn’t meant to!”

Lady Gass, Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, and Taunton Mayor Steve Brooks were also present for the visit.

Julie Garbutt, one of the founders of Back on Track, said: “We help out kids who are struggling at school, maybe with confidence issues, or who are getting in trouble – they don’t necessarily have to be disabled.

“For them it changes things.”

Jayne Parsley, of the support for learning unit at the Taunton Academy, said: “Coming out here is major for the children. It has been great.”