Equine-assisted wellbeing programme

Wellbeing focused sessions for individuals and groups, lead by a Wellbeing Practitioner who is supervised by a Mental Health Specialist.

Sessions focus on improving wellbeing through calming, regulating activities with the horses and in nature and on building relationships with peers through supported group delivery with young people of a similar age experiencing similar challenges.

  • Our well-being sessions are available as one-to-one (60 minutes) or as part of an open group (120 minutes).

  • Our 120-minute group sessions are available to individuals in open groups, or as private sessions arranged through schools and partner organisations.

Who can benefit from our wellbeing programme?

Young people experiencing poor wellbeing who would benefit from time in nature and support in making relationships with peers. 

“I’ve achieved loads of goals whilst I’ve been here, when I arrived I had no qualifications and now I do, so I’m proud of all the achievements I’ve made. It’s been good to set goals and then look back and see my progress.”

Individual wellbeing session

  • Our one-to-one sessions are designed to support each young person's unique needs

  • Sessions are led by an experience youth wellbeing practitioner who receive supervision and input on programme delivery from both our qualified Education and Mental Health Specialist team

  • COST: 1 hour Individual sessions or 2 hour group sessions (Therapeutic Education Group): £120 / session

  • Bursaries available – if cost is a barrier, please complete the bursary form when making a referral

Group wellbeing session

Our group sessions are tailored to support the needs and personal development goals of the young people involved.

  • Led by a an experienced youth wellbeing facilitator and an equine behaviour specialist

  • 120 minute sessions

    COST:

  • Groups of up to 8:

    Total cost of 12 week programme = £6,031. £62.75 per person per session.

    Groups of 16:

    Total cost of 12 week programme = £9,046. £47 per person per session.

    Bursaries available – if cost is a barrier, please complete the bursary form when making a referral

Group of young children watching a white horse in SLTH arena

What happens in a wellbeing session

Young people are supported to engage in relaxing, co-regulating activities with the horses such as brushing; leading and observing the herd as well as mindful activities on the stable yard including cleaning the stables, gardening and picking herbs for the horses.

Where possible young people are supported to join small groups of similar age young people and undertake teamwork and mentoring activities focused on building friendships and connection to reduce isolation.

Once wellbeing is improved and where relevant young people will be supported to progress into our educational pathway to achieve qualifications and enter into a pathway of educational training and to ultimately meaningfully engage with education; employment or volunteering.

Well-being programme outcomes

Improved wellbeing

Improved nervous system regulation

Improved friendships and connections with others. Reduced isolation.

Improved Self- esteem

Engagement in an activity which boosts wellbeing which progressively leads to engagement with further positive activities in the community.

Get in touch

Get in touch to explore how we can support the young person or people you work with. We’ll work with you to design a bespoke well-being programme tailored to their needs and goals.

No two programmes are the same — each one is tailored around the individual or group, ensuring the support we offer is relevant, meaningful, and impactful.

Why Horses

Horses naturally respond to the emotional issues people bring to sessions and reflect the emotions of people in their own behaviour. The young people are asked to reflect on the behaviour they see from the horses and their own role in influencing this behaviour.

By projecting their emotions on to the animals, the young people open up about their own emotions and life experiences; giving the mental health staff the opportunity to facilitate therapeutic conversations to help the young person think about their personal challenges, learn to identify and manage their emotions and develop coping strategies for the challenges they face.

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