Core Art's Caring for Horses for Mental Health

I knew I’d love it but I am actually surprised by the effect that just being in contact with these beautiful animals is having on me.

Spending time with horses is well documented as being good for mental wellbeing. This has been borne out by a new course piloted at Lee Valley Riding Centre that had a profound effect on participants.

The eight-week Caring for Horses for Mental Health sessions at the centre on Lea Bridge Road in Leyton provided eight people, being supported by Hackney based charity Core Arts, with the opportunity to spend time with horses and learn new skills.

Funded by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Community Access Fund, the weekly sessions taught adults living with serious mental illness, the basics of horse care – from grooming and feeding to tacking up and leading a horse.

Giuliana Molinari, Deputy CEO at Core Artssays the non-ridden course has had a positive effect on the group. “At Core Arts we support people living with long term mental health illness that are referred to us by the NHS. The Caring for Horses for Mental Health course has been a wonderful experience that has had a huge impact on the whole group. They’re learning so many new skills and for that one hour a week they are totally immersed in what they are doing. Riding was never the goal for this course but the benefit of what we have achieved is greater than the riding. The connection with the horses is much deeper.”

Ridden experiences are widely available but there is a lack of opportunities for people to benefit from being around and learning about horses, without, what is for some, the pressure of riding, so Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Active Communities Scheme funded a pilot non-ridden course. The sessions had a positive impact on participants’ mental wellbeing not only on the day they attended, but in the days that followed.

Hannah took part in the pilot and said: “I’ve always wanted to be around horses but never had the opportunity. When do you ever get to do something like this in inner London? When I’m around animals my mood brightens. Our Monday morning visits have boosted us for the whole week. Just being around horses settles the nerves. You use all your senses. It’s a way to reduce anxiety. The benefits to my mental health have been astounding.”

Peter added: “After the sessions I find my mood is lifted. It brightens my week, gives me energy and motivation to carry on. It eases the pain of other stuff going on for me. This has come at a wonderful time for me, where I really needed a connection with nature to draw me out of a deep depression.”

Lee Valley Riding Centre’s staff instructor Abbi lead the course and explained that for most of the group, this was a new activity. “It’s been wonderful to watch their development from Week 1 when they were all quite reserved and perhaps nervous. They all followed instructions but as the weeks progressed, they became more inquisitive, looked for changes in their horse’s behaviour and I could see their confidence grow. One member wouldn’t even touch a horse in the first week but by Week 8 she was grooming, tacking up and leading her horse. Horses are a great therapy for mental wellbeing, and I can really see the impact it has had on this group.”

Ellie found the teaching style helped her retain new information: “Our teacher Abbi has been a fantastic teacher, so knowledgeable and encouraging. I’ve really enjoyed learning about the anatomy of the horse, their health, diet, psychology and in such a relaxed way that I can actually take it in and remember things. I normally struggle with this as being in an anxious state makes taking in and retaining new information very challenging. I think that the calming effect of the horses make this possible, which is amazing! I’ve learnt so many practical skills and I’m beginning to feel more confident in trying things like putting a bridle on and leading a horse. I look forward to our sessions all week and perhaps one day can use what I’ve learnt to volunteer at a riding centre.”

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Active Communities Grant Scheme and Community Access Fund paid for more than 3,250 experiences at its venues and open spaces in 2024. They give financial support to community and school groups to pay for travel to or activities within the park, helping make Lee Valley Regional Park accessible to all. Find out more about these funding schemes here.

*Names of participants have been changed.