Having no horse is no obstacle to learning to ride in Frampton on Severn, thanks to a £17,000 new riding stimulator. The state-of-the-art robohorse has been designed for aspiring dressage riders and is one of only six worldwide. Now installed in a custom-made stable at the home of riding instructor Pauline Martin, 'Charlie' is guaranteed not to kick or buck, has unlimited stamina and never needs mucking out. Reporter Alli Pyrah takes the reins.

"I SAW an advert for it in Horse & Hound and thought that sounds interesting so I went along to see it," explains Pauline, a British Horse Society-qualified instructor with 15 years' teaching experience.

"I was so impressed I ordered one on the spot. "It's perfect for beginners, because they can get a feeling of how to ride without feeling nervous, and for people who are returning to fitness after an injury.

"But it's also great for more experienced riders who want to concentrate on their posture, because you don't have to worry about it changing direction or getting tired. There are no distractions."

The simulator vaguely resembles what might be called a bucking bronco in low-budget spaghetti westerns, but it is no fairground ride.

Created by Cheshire-based Racewood Limited after 25 years OF research, this particular model is designed for dressage, but there are others geared towards the racing and polo industries.

Having never ridden before, I am reassured by the thought that Charlie is not going to charge off into the sunset as I struggle to manoeuvre my fairly sizeable posterior into the saddle.

He also seems unfazed by me bouncing around on his back with the grace and panache of a sack of potatoes as I attempt to adjust my posture to Pauline's specifications.

This is fairly easy, thanks to wall-to-wall mirrors.

Having straightened my back and legs, I am soon enjoying myself enormously as we progress through the different movements, which include a walk, two speeds of trot and two speeds of canter.

I have nothing to compare them to, but am told they are very realistic.

The simulator can be operated by buttons on the neck, but once Pauline is confident I am not going to fall off, she sets it to respond to a squeeze of the legs or a pull of the reins.

For my peace of mind (or hers?), she informs me there is also an emergency stop button within easy reach.

To our mutual delight, I get the knack of something called a rising trot within a couple of minutes, which I'm told might take me one or two lessons on a real horse.

I feel quite disappointed when I have to climb out of the saddle and am already mentally filling in my entry form for Badminton as I get out my notepad.

Pauline does stress that the simulator is not a substitute for learning to ride on a real horse.

"But it's a great training tool," she explains.

And Charlie has already received a lot of interest - especially from his neighbours.

"The other horses poke their heads round the door and snort at it," she says.

A session on the riding simulator is £25 for the first 45-minute lesson and £20 for every 45 minutes after that. Pauline can be contacted on 01452 741363.