Funded by the Veterans Foundation, we are thankful for the opportunity this grant has given us so that we have staff to recruit veterans to attend the new Equine Assisted Learning course in partnership with Groundworks EAL who deliver the tailored programme.
In October 2023 we introduced a 10-week equine assisted learning course where beneficiaries can groom and lead a horse in an enclosed space to generate a calm, reflective experience and develop a special bond, and veterans develop a sense of responsibility and pride in their accomplishments whilst learning about the ways horses interact with other horses as well as humans.
Brooke House is delighted to receive this funding so that we have staff to run further equine assisted learning courses. We aim to help more veterans improve their mental health in a positive and therapeutic way, by using the beauty and calmness that horses bring through connection, thereby learning to control their emotions. Our initial pilot course delivered with Groundworks EAL was very well received, everyone loved attending and spending time with the facilitators and horses as the group developed.
Psychometrics such as WEMWBS were used as health and wellbeing checks, with 99% of attendees showing improvement upon completion of the course.
This will be further tested at the reunion in July.
Some comments from attendees:
“Being around the horses is so relaxing. The tension and anxiety in my body eases so much being around the horses.
This course lifts my mood and being near the horses is great for my depression and loneliness, which I suffer from.
“Therapeutic, time slows down, forget all else going on, learn new skills, community feel with the leaders and group, opens your own environment to be a whole new world of equine, builds confidence within you for life.”
