Therapeutic Horsemanship
Therapeutic horsemanship benefits a wide range of adults and children looking for a new way to improve confidence and self-awareness, including people with behavioural challenges, mental health problems and learning difficulties.
Therapeutic work with horses has been shown to:
- Improve confidence and self-esteem
- Reduce stress, anxiety and depression
- Enhance communication and relationship skills
- Manage emotions and behavioural issues
- Encourage nurturing skills and self discipline
- Develop focus, balance and coordination skills
- Provide a connection with nature and the environment
Join us at our Therapeutic Horsemanship Centre, conveniently situated just off the A17 between Boston and Spalding in Lincolnshire.
Private and group sessions are available for adults and children on a long-term or short-term basis.
Clients can undertake a variety of enjoyable activities and exercises with our horses, enabling them to learn new skills as they develop a partnership with the horse based on trust and mutual respect.
Activities may include:
- Discovering how horses use body language and energy to communicate
- Watching the herd to gain an understanding of equine behaviour
- Taking care of horses: feeding, grooming and general stable management
- Interacting with the horse: leading, long-reining and liberty work
This is the only place I feel relaxed.
The horse activities are carried out in a safe, non-judgemental environment in a way that encourages personal development. Working outside with horses also stimulates an appreciation of the countryside, conservation, wildlife and maintaining a sustainable natural environment for the horses and the local community. It is possible for clients to incorporate other interests, such as photography, art, mindfulness or craftwork into their activities. For schools, we can integrate activities with their existing curriculum.
My daughter has been attending weekly horse therapy sessions for almost a year and after a hard week at school she looks forward to her sessions; they help her relax and make her feel calm, everyone is so friendly, and it helps her anxiety. She gains such a lot from it, the horses are perfect for her, and she loves to groom them and help take care of them; they are the highlight of her week and really helps her mental well-being.
Therapeutic horsemanship does not involve riding and no prior experience with horses is required.
My granddaughter has been attending sessions at Inspired EAL for over a year. She is autistic and has a background of childhood trauma. She has some learning difficulties and lives with a huge amount of anxiety. Working with the horses at Sunset Farm has increased her confidence and it is lovely to see her calm and happy there, helped by the calm and friendly workers.
We currently have funding for 2 on-going projects:
- Horses Helping Children With Neurodevelopmental Differences
- Horses Helping Improve Adult Mental & Physical Wellbeing
We also have funding for our Hedgerow Heroes Initiative, which will take place in November and December and will help to educate volunteers on hedge-laying and wildlife hedge surveys, and offer talks and provided material to illustrate hedgerow management best practices.
We also provide sessions for a number of local special needs schools for children with a range of learning difficulties and disabilities.
Pepsi also goes on occasional visits to meet care home residents.