HorseBack UK

28/08/2026

📚🐎 FREE REIN IS OFF AND RUNNING! 🐎📚

The response to Jock Hutchison’s Free Rein has been fantastic, and it sounds like copies are literally flying out! 🙌

We’ve already had loads of messages from readers who’ve received their books, with some brilliant photos coming in of you proudly showing off your copy! 📸👏

Others have told us their copy is on its way, while plenty more are planning to head out this weekend to grab theirs. 🏃‍♂️💨📖

And now we want to see YOU! 👀

Have you got your copy of Free Rein?

📸 Take a photo with your book
🐴 Share it with us
📲 Tag HorseBack UK

Let’s see how far Free Rein is travelling!

Keep those photos coming, we LOVE seeing them! ❤️

27/08/2026

📖 🐎 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The day has finally arrived!

Today marks the official launch of Free Rein, the incredible book by Jock Hutchison, co-founder of HorseBack UK.

From horses and adventure to the experiences, challenges and people that have shaped his remarkable journey and attended the charity, Free Rein is a story that deserves to be shared.

And there’s more… 🎧

The audiobook is narrated by the famous and hugely talented Scottish actor David Rintoul, bringing Jock’s story to life in an entirely different way.

📚 Available now in all good bookshops and on Amazon

🎧 Also available as an audiobook

So, what are you waiting for?

Get your copy of Free Rein today and join Jock on the ride of a lifetime! 🐴🌿

27/08/2026

⚓🐴 ROYAL NAVY FAMILIES WEEK AT HORSEBACK UK 🐴⚓

What a brilliant week we had last week welcoming Royal Navy families to HorseBack UK for five days packed with fun, adventure, learning and, most importantly, time together as families.
Throughout the week, everyone got stuck into a huge range of activities. There was horsemanship and horse riding, learning how to communicate with and build confidence around our horses, alongside archery, bushcraft and shelter building, science experiments and rockets with the wonderfully eccentric Prof. Giblets, rock painting, farm chores and a very competitive sports afternoon!
We also headed away from the centre for trips to Ballater and Burn O’Vat, giving families the chance to explore some of the fantastic countryside and communities surrounding HorseBack UK.
There was plenty of laughter, a few challenges, new skills learned and some fantastic teamwork along the way. From riding a horse and hitting an archery target to launching rockets, building shelters, kicking footballs and bouncing around on space hoppers, there was rarely a quiet moment!
But behind all the activities was something much more important.
Military family life brings its own unique challenges. Weeks like this provide an opportunity for families to spend quality time together, meet others who understand military life, try something new and simply enjoy being a family.
We finished the week with a visit to favourite horses and animals, presentations and awards celebrating everything the children and families had achieved.
A huge BZ (Bravo Zulu) to all our Royal Navy families who joined us. You threw yourselves into everything with enthusiasm, humour and a fantastic sense of adventure.
And, of course, a massive thank you to the HorseBack UK team and everyone who helped make the week possible.

⚓ Royal Navy Families + HorseBack UK = one very special week. 🐴

Fun • Friendship • Adventure • Family Time • Memories

17/08/2026

👀 10 days to go, pre order your copy here

https://amzn.eu/d/09kuOdAv

15/08/2026

Yesterday HorseBack UK was in The Telegraph (online). Today we have gone old school and have made it into the actual Daily Telegraph newspaper .
We are so excited about the response to Jock’s upcoming book Free Rein (available on Amazon) and thank everyone for their kind and supportive comments.

14/08/2026

👀 📰 Horseback UK are in the Telegraph (Online) today…

Jock Hutchison is building on his work with fellow veterans to get youngsters off their phones, onto horses – and back into the real world

14/08/2026

📚 🐎 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 FREE REIN – THE POWERFUL AND HEART-WARMING STORY OF HOW HORSES AND HUMANS CAN FIND HAPPINESS

We are incredibly excited to share some very special news from HorseBack UK.

Our co-founder Jock Hutchison has written a book.

FREE REIN, published by Bloomsbury, will be released on 27th August 2026 and is available to pre-order now from Bloomsbury, Amazon and all good bookshops.

It will be available in hard copy and as an audiobook, narrated by the extremely talented Scottish actor David Rintoul, known for his roles in Dr Finlay’s Casebook, Hornblower, The Crown and Game of Thrones.

🎥️ In this short interview, our Course Director Jason Hare catches up with Jock to talk about the book, the story behind it and the extraordinary journey that led to HorseBack UK.

“The powerful and heart-warming story of how horses and humans can find happiness.”

On a remote Scottish farm, something remarkable happens.

People who have been wounded by war, young people struggling to find their place in the world, and those searching for happiness, confidence or wellbeing begin to feel whole again.

At the heart of it all is a man in a cowboy hat and a herd of remarkable horses.

Jock’s own relationship with horses began as a child, when his first pony provided an escape from a difficult home life. His journey would later take him from Royal Marines officer to helicopter pilot and successful businessman, before his life took a very different turn.

Following his own struggles, failures and mental health challenges, the horses called him back.

In 2009, Jock co-founded HorseBack UK, initially supporting veterans recovering from physical and psychological injuries. What began with the Armed Forces community has grown into something much bigger, helping people from many different backgrounds find confidence, connection and a way forward.

In Free Rein, Jock takes readers onto the farm and follows a group of struggling teenagers as they learn to work with horses – and, in doing so, learn more about themselves and each other.

Phones are put away. Anxieties begin to quieten. Trust is built. Mistakes are made. Lessons are learned.

And the horses are there every step of the way. 🐎 ❤️

For anyone who has ever wondered why we do what we do at HorseBack UK, where it all began, or just what it is about horses that can have such a profound effect on people – this is a book for you.

📖 FREE REIN by Jock Hutchison
📅 Published 27th August 2026
🎧 Audiobook narrated by David Rintoul
🛒 Available to pre-order now from Bloomsbury, Amazon and all good bookshops.

https://amzn.eu/d/09kuOdAv

Please share and help us spread the word.

29/07/2026

🌟🐴 THIS SUMMER… LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN! 🌿🔥

Looking for something your child will actually remember this summer? Give them five action packed days of adventure, confidence building, and outdoor fun at HorseBack UK’s Wild Horses Summer Camp!

🐎 Ride horses
🏹 Hit the bullseye with archery
🔥 Learn bushcraft skills
🌲 Explore the outdoors
🤝 Make amazing new friends
💚 Grow in confidence every single day

Whether they’re a complete beginner or already love the outdoors, every young person is welcomed into a fun, friendly, and supportive environment where they can challenge themselves, laugh, learn, and create memories that will last long after summer ends.

📅 10th–14th August
🕙 10:00am – 3:30pm
👧🧒 Ages 11–15 | All abilities welcome

⚡ Spaces are filling fast so don’t let them miss out on the adventure of the summer!

📍 Book now at www.horseback.org.uk
📧 [email protected] or Messenger DM
📞 Call 01339 880487

Tag a parent who needs to see this! 👇

21/07/2026

🐴 Unplug. Explore. Thrive. 🌿

Looking for an unforgettable summer adventure? Join us at HorseBack UK’s Wild Horses Summer Camp, where young people can build confidence, make new friends, and connect with nature through incredible outdoor experiences.

From horse riding and bushcraft to archery and team games, every day is packed with fun, learning, and adventure in a safe, supportive environment.

📅 Monday 10th – Friday 14th August
🕙 10:00am – 3:30pm
👧🧒 Ages 11–15 | All abilities welcome

✨ Build resilience.
✨ Learn new skills.
✨ Create memories that last a lifetime.

Places are limited, so don’t miss out on this amazing summer experience!

📍Book your place today: horseback.org.uk
📞 013398 80487

14/07/2026

This has taken some time and planning but so excited to announce our new collaboration with Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and Hartpury

A New Collaboration to Develop a Centre of Excellence for Equine Assisted Services

Hartpury, Riding for the Disabled Association and HorseBack UK are working together to develop a world-leading Centre of Excellence for Equine Assisted Services (EAS) in the South West.

This marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration focused on advancing human and equine health and wellbeing through evidence-based practice, education, research and innovation.
By bringing together Hartpury University's expertise in higher education, research and equine science, RDA's national reach and scale, and HorseBack UK's extensive experience delivering life-changing equine-assisted programmes, the collaboration will:

- Establish a recognised Centre of Excellence for Equine Assisted Services
- Develop and deliver high-quality EAS programmes
- Advance research into outcomes for both people and horses
- Create educational pathways and professional development opportunities for future practitioners
- Advance equine welfare and ethical practice through research, including the role of former racehorses in EAS
- Share knowledge and promote best practice across the UK and internationally

Together, we aim to build a stronger evidence base for Equine Assisted Services while supporting workforce development, and raising standards across the sector.

Read more: https://rda.org.uk/news/hartpury-rda-and-horseback-uk-unite-to-develop-centre-of-excellence-for-equine-assisted-services/