Meet the team
Strength & Learning Through Horses Staff
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Rosie Bensley
Joint CEO and Education Programme Director
20 years professional experience training horses, specialising in horses with behavioural challenges. Rosie founded the educational arm of the charity in 2016 after noticing the profound life changes made by clients after learning to communicate with their horse in a different way.
She also has corporate experience working in marketing & business development
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Dr Jemma Hockley
Joint CEO and Therapy Programme Director
Clinical Psychologist registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and has a further diploma in Systemic approaches to working with individuals, families and organisations. Jemma founded therapy services at SLTH in 2009 following her Doctoral Research on the positive impact of equine therapy on mental health service users in the UK and her experiences working as a CAMHS Clinical Psychologist within the NHS. Jemma is responsible for the delivery and management of therapeutic services at SLTH.
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Laura Gill
Volunteer & Training Manager and Programme Lead
Diploma in child psychology Level 4, ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring, Equine Facilitated Coaching Certificate, Certificate in Child & Adolescent Counselling skills
My role at SLTH is very varied– I manage our wonderful volunteers and train them and new staff in the SLTH model. I run/manage the well-being group and am programme lead on our other education and well-being programmes. I also manage the holiday programmes and support our outreach programmes.
I love to keep active – whether that’s running, playing netball, going horse riding or practising yoga/Pilates. One of my favourite things outside of sports is to hang out with my little nieces or friends.
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Louise Gibson
Fundraising and Community Engagement Manager
I’ve worked at SLTH for over seven years.
Fundraising is vital to help keep our services running, and the Community Engagement role gets me out and about, meeting with schools and other organisations to tell them about our services and how our equine therapy and alternative education programmes make a big difference to young people’s lives.
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Cate Dunn
Programme Lead
Diploma in Counselling Supervision, Equine Facilitated Psychotherapist, Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist with BACP
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Jocelyn DrummondÂ
Equine Specialist and Programme Lead
Qualifications: British Horse Society Performance Coach BHSI; CPCAB Level 3 certificate in Counselling Studies; Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health; Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism; Youth Mental Health First Aider
I use my knowledge of horses and their behaviour to keep all the people and horses safe and the sessions running smoothly and effectively. I lead group education programmes, provide one to one wellbeing and education sessions and work alongside the mental health practitioners who provide group and one to one therapy sessions.
Coaching riding and training horses has been a passion all my life and I recognise how much being with horses can help our mental health. I love working with them to help young people develop their life skills and wellbeing.
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Julia Fisher
Equine Specialist
Recommended Trainer for Intelligent Horsemanship, tutored on Intelligent Horsemanship courses for 25 yrs
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Shona Lavey-Khan
Clinical Psychologist
Qualifications: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, further training in Narrative Exposure Therapy, Video Interactive Guidance, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and others.
I work one day a week offering equine therapy. I focus on how the person I am supporting is feeling within their life and around the horses. I try to think about their key relationships to help them feel well supported. Everyone is unique and has their own strengths, so I like to build on these so that people can achieve their goals. I try to gently push people to be the best versions of themselves.
When I’m not at SLTH I’m either offering more traditional therapies somewhere else or being a mum. My hobbies include walking in nature, reading, and baking cakes. I like comedy and humour to manage more difficult moments.
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Gabrielle Olsen
Administrative Assistant
I help ensure everything runs smoothly and try to take the pressure off our equine specialists and therapists with administrative support, so that they can focus on the hands-on work of supporting our young people and horses.
I’m also involved in making sure we keep good records of the work we do and its outcomes, so we can show the value of what we do.
I’m one of the rare people in SLTH with next to no experience with horses, but I do love horses and animals in general, and I'm loving the opportunity to work with them and be out in the great outdoors! My own close animal friendship is with my cat, Mango.
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Emily
Keits Level 2 Apprentice Groom
Qualifications: Level 3 animal management, FdSc Agriculture, BHS Stage 1
My role involves looking after the horses, the chickens, and the site. You may see me feeding the horses, mucking out the stables, looking after the fields and site. My role as the apprentice groom enables me to develop and learn new skills on how to look after and care for the horses on site
I have been around horses since I was a child and have taken part in Shetland racing and trick riding before studying animal management at college, where I caught the farming bug. I have taken part in lambing seasons, and I have worked on open and commercial farms.
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Dr Tessa Holderness
Clinical Psychologist
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology, Masters in Forensic Mental Health Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
I offer equine-assisted therapy for children, young people, and sometimes with families. Working alongside horses creates a calm, reflective space to explore everyday challenges, recognise strengths, and think together about ways forward. I am particularly passionate about supporting neurodivergent young people to feel understood, build confidence, and connect with their strengths through neuro-affirming work.
Outside of work, you will often find me spending time with my dogs, cats, and horses. As someone who is neurodivergent, I deeply value the calming and grounding power of animals and nature, which continues to shape both my life and my work.
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Alicia van den Abeele
Equine Specialist Programme Lead
Bachelor of Science with Honours Zoology, Master of Research with Distinction in Anthrozoology: Equine Assisted Therapy.
I deliver group and one-on-one education and wellbeing sessions for young people. In sessions, we explore horse behaviour, communication and care, and encourage young people to embody those learnings into their own lives. I also work with our clinical psychologists to deliver therapy sessions.
I create a safe and creative space for young people to feel more regulated, build their confidence, make connections, be empowered, work as part of a team, and think independently.
Horses and other animals have always played a very important therapeutic role in my life, and I am now very pleased to facilitate those relationships for others. I am a nature-inspired artist, a keen traveller, and I love all sorts of delicious foods!
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Desrae Le RouxÂ
Education Service Lead (BA, MA, NPQH)
My role is to develop, deliver and expand a longer-term vocational education service for young people age 14 – 25 with oversight of the 12-week education programmes to ensure quality of delivery. I manage the ES staff and Yard Manager and liaise with parents, schools, the Local Authority and exam boards.
I was born in South Africa and moved to the UK after finishing University. I have taught PE and Geography at Secondary schools for 24 years and was a Deputy Headteacher in two secondary schools. I enjoy horse riding, hence the reason I took on this role, combining my love of learning and horses.