New horse therapy charity helps disadvantaged young people

A new horse therapy charity set up by a riding teacher from North London is helping disadvantaged young people find work.

Rosie Edwards’ charity Learning Through Horses (LTH) runs personal development programmes for vulnerable young people using horses as therapists.

The charity is based at the Strength in Horses centre in Edgware, North London.

The stables are the only ones in London dedicated to helping clients with mental health and behavioural problems. Rosie, 27 worked for the Strength in Horses centre before setting up LTH as a charity last November.

“We work with adults and young people from all over London who face significant challenges in their lives, including autism and other learning difficulties, mental health issues, a history of abuse and neglect, and drug and alcohol addiction,” Rosie Edwards told H&H.

Currently around 35 people a week attend the charity’s skills-focused courses.

One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, was referred to LTH by her school. She was suffering from severe anxiety issues, was self-harming and, according to her teacher had no interest in her future.

The student grew in confidence on the Learning Through Horses programme and her attendance at school improved. “The programme made a huge impact on her life,” said her teacher.

The employability and horsemanship skills course the charity runs leads to a QCF accredited Prince’s Trust qualification.

The course is a personal development programme for young people out of work and unemployed adults.

If an organisation can send enough students to fill the course (up to seven) the cost for the 10-week course run over 3 hours on one afternoon or morning a week is £2,500. Otherwise the cost is £480 for individuals.

For students who want to go on and pursue a career in the equine industry, LTH helps find them work experience in stables in and around London.

“All of our clients are disengaged with education or employment when they are referred to uss and it’s our job — with the help of our four-legged teachers — to equip clients to go on to successfully reintegrate with the education system or to find full-time employment,” added Rosie.

LTH needs to raise £30,000 this year to enable it to expand and offer its programmes to more young people.

For more information visit www.learningthroughhorses.org

Ref: Horse & Hound; 2 April 2015

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