Horses helping Amy to better regulate emotions
Teenager Amy from Plymouth says learning sessions in partnership with our rescued horses at Coombe Park Equestrian and Education Centre have helped her to control her emotions and develop a deeper connection with animals.
‘At school I was like a ticking time bomb. I was very loud and quite hyper, and I can still be, but now I know when to stop.
‘I was quite worried, coming onto the yard for the first time. Everybody helps everybody, everybody communicates. You can’t be silly around horses because they’ve got big feet, and you’ve got to switch on your brain. You can’t just mess around, and I’ve taken that from here into the actual real world. When I get frustrated and things don’t go to plan, I take a deep breath and think, right, what should I do in this situation?
‘I’ve learned so much from being here, and I want to continue working with animals. It’s not just about knowing how to brush a horse. It’s knowing how to control your emotions, step back, and actually breathe.
‘I’ve really changed. I used to be quite a violent, nasty kind of girl. But now I realise it’s not big and it’s not cool, and actually people are going to look at you a lot better if they see a calm, collected, responsible young adult. This is my safe space. I just love it.’
Through our Equine Assisted Services, we offer meaningful experiences for children, young people, and adults in our community. These include equine assisted learning, wellbeing, and activities, all designed to support personal growth and emotional wellbeing.