HorseBack UK

16/06/2026

👀 ‼️ Looking for something different this summer? 🌟 💡

After an amazing response to our recent social media posts, we’re excited to open up more spaces for our weekly Engagement Group!

📅 Every Wednesday
⏰ 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Our Engagement Group is designed to help young people aged 16–25 build confidence, overcome anxiety, and take positive steps towards employment, education, or training.

This supportive and welcoming group acts as a pathway into our 12-Week Youth Development Programme, starting in September 2026 at HorseBack UK and delivered in partnership with The King’s Trust Team Programme.

Through practical activities, teamwork, and personal development, participants gain the confidence and skills needed to move forward with their future.

🐴 What can you expect?

✅ Helping with day-to-day farm tasks
🏹 Archery & Bushcraft
🚶 Health walks and time outdoors
☕ Relaxed chats over tea, coffee, or a cold drink
💬 Learning about wellbeing and how to improve it
🤝 Building friendships and real connections

Every session is different, but the focus remains the same:
Connection • Communication • Participation

If you, or someone you know, would benefit from getting out, trying something new, and becoming part of a supportive community, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more or register your interest:

📞 Call: 013398 80487

📧: [email protected]

🔗 Link: https://horseback.org.uk/contact/

02/06/2026

🤩 👀 Partnerships are so important, and we are extremely proud to be delivering and sharing our 17 years of knowledge and experience in Equine Assisted Services throughout the UK
🐎 🇬🇧 🫡

"It's given me hope and confidence to take more care of myself so I can be the best version of me."
— Veteran, RAF

Recently, The Armed Forces Equine Charity successfully delivered a Veterans Active Recovery Programme in partnership with HorseBack UK at Shrivenham Equestrian Centre

Read the full story and hear directly from the veterans who took part: https://armedforcesequine.com/news/veterans-active-recovery-programme-delivers-positive-outcomes-at-shrivenham-equestrian-centre/

28/05/2026

🌟 Exciting News from HorseBack! 🌟

👀 Over the past few months, we’ve received so many enquiries asking whether members of the public can take part in our wellbeing programmes…

And we’re delighted to say that the answer is now YES! 🎉

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more information about how you can get involved, but today we’re excited to introduce our Online Equine Assisted Learning & Wellbeing Programme.

🐎 🧑‍🎓 “Equine assisted learning online?”
We know…a few years ago we would have thought the same! But during Covid, we adapted our programmes to continue supporting people safely and effectively from a distance. We worked closely with NHS staff during some of their most vulnerable moments, and the programme has continued to make a real impact ever since.

✨ What’s included?
• 8 group Zoom sessions
• Around 1 hour each
• Guided HorseBack learning principles
• Videos of our horses to help explain key concepts and wellbeing techniques

If you’d like to find out more about dates and costs, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 Email: [email protected]

📞 Phone: 013398 80487

PersonalGrowth EquineTherapy

15/05/2026

👀 News This Week ‼️

We were extremely honoured to deliver another powerful Equine Assisted Services wellbeing programme for veterans in partnership with the Armed Forces Equine Charity, hosted by the incredible team at Shrivenham Equestrian Centre, based out of the MOD Defence Academy.

“This programme was coordinated by the Armed Forces Equine Charity, in partnership with HorseBack UK, providing specialist, trauma-informed support to veterans. Funded by the Veterans' Foundation through the Veterans Active Recovery Programme.”

During the course, veterans experiencing trauma, stress and the lasting effects of military service were given the opportunity to reconnect with themselves, each other and the environment through a unique programme focused on positive mental health and wellbeing.

The horses were at the heart of the experience. Horses have an incredible ability to help people regulate emotions, build trust, improve confidence and encourage calmness and presence. Working alongside them promotes emotional awareness, communication, resilience and connection without judgement. For many veterans, this creates a safe and grounding environment where healing and reflection can begin.

Participants also took part in a range of wellbeing activities designed to support both physical and mental recovery:

🏹 Archery sessions encouraged focus, patience, discipline and mindfulness. Helping to slow racing and intrusive thoughts, and remain present in the moment.

🌿 Breathwork techniques provided practical tools for managing anxiety, stress responses and emotional regulation, empowering attendees with strategies they can continue using long after the course.

🚶 Wellbeing walks offered time in nature for reflection, conversation and decompression, highlighting the proven benefits that movement and outdoor environments have on mental health.

📸 Photography sessions encouraged creativity, perspective and mindfulness, helping participants focus on positive moments, reconnect with curiosity and see the world differently.

🔧 Throughout the programme, veterans also learned practical anxiety and stress management techniques delivered by the deployable HorseBack UK team, giving attendees a personal mental health toolkit they can continue to build upon in everyday life.

This week Emma Hutchison CEO of HorseBack UK, Jason Hare Course Director, members of the HBUK Southern Team, Matt Ruddy AFEC’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer, and proffesionals from NHS Op Courage ran and facilitated a course that left attendees feeling hopeful, empowered, relaxed and inspired. This is a truly unique partnership within the Equine Assisted Services sector.

Most importantly, sincere thanks to everyone at Shrivenham Equestrian Centre. Your kindness, smiles, laughter, friendship and unwavering support created a welcoming environment where veterans felt safe, valued and encouraged throughout the programme. Your wonderful horses, knowledgeable team and fantastic facilities made a genuine difference to everyone involved, and your commitment to supporting your local community as well as the veteran community is something truly special.

Finally, thank you to the Armed Forces Equine Charity for continuing to champion and facilitate innovative, trauma-informed support for veterans and for helping make programmes like this possible.

Together, we are building pathways to recovery, connection and hope. 🫡 🐎 🇬🇧

06/05/2026

😮 From combat engineer to uncovering Royal history…

This week on our Veterans Wellbeing Course, young former Royal Engineer Charlie Maughan experienced something truly special.

For generations, Charlie’s family believed they were connected to a historic figure closely tied to this local area. Recent DNA testing has now confirmed that Charlie is a descendant of John Brown, the loyal Scottish attendant and trusted confidant of Queen Victoria.

John Brown served Queen Victoria from 1861 until his death in 1883 and became one of the most influential and controversial figures within the Royal Household. Originally a ghillie at Balmoral, he became Victoria’s closest companion after Prince Albert’s death. A relationship that sparked endless rumours and resentment within royal circles in the Victorian period.

Today, during our pilgrimage to Balmoral Castle with the course, Charlie visited both John Brown’s grave and the statue commissioned by Queen Victoria in his honour. After her death, the late monarch’s son Edward VII, who often locked horns with the straight talking ghillie and disapproving of the relationship with his mother; relocated the memorial to a less conspicuous part of the estate after her death. Guided by our Course Director Jay Hare, Charlie stood where history and family legacy met.

And then came the moment none of us expected. Looking between Charlie and the memorial statue of John Brown (seen in the pictures below), Jay simply said:

“Oh my days… yep, you can see the family resemblance between you two.”

A powerful, emotional, and heartwarming reminder that wellbeing journeys are often about rediscovering identity, belonging, and connection, not just to ourselves, but to those who came before us.

Are you related to anyone from history? Let us know in the comments below 👇

04/05/2026

Sunshine, horses, and a moment to breathe
☀️🐎 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

We’re proud to be running our fourth military veterans course of the year here at HorseBack UK, and what a beautiful start it’s been. With the sun shining down, participants have been settling in, getting to know their incredible learning partners; the horses.

Equine Assisted Services especially in regards to wellbeing offers something truly unique. Horses are intuitive, responsive, and nonjudgmental, helping participants reconnect with themselves, build trust, and develop calm, grounded awareness. Simply being around them encourages mindfulness, you have to be present, steady, and clear.

This afternoon’s wellbeing activity was yoga. This helps regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and improve both physical and mental balance. Combined with time spent outdoors and alongside horses, it creates a powerful environment for reflection, relaxation, and renewal.

Days like these, filled with sunshine, connection, and calm offer a much needed respite from the stressors of everyday life. It’s no surprise this course continues to be one of our most popular.

Sunny days, happy times, and meaningful moments ☀️ 😊

03/05/2026

Taff Teague 🙌 Veterans Awards

01/05/2026

We’re incredibly proud to share that former Major Richard ‘Taff’ Teague was nominated on Wednesday night for the Role Model of the Year at the prestigious Scottish Veterans Awards. And came away with Silver against some truly outstanding competition. 🙌

Taff’s dedication, humility, and unwavering commitment make a lasting impact every single day. Through his work with HorseBack UK, he continues to support and inspire veterans on their journeys. Alongside this, his role as Youth Development Programme Lead in partnership with The King's Trust is helping shape brighter futures for young people.

He was proud to attend the evening supported by our Yard Manager Charlotte Hutchison and her partner Luke, a great reflection of the strong team behind him.

Recognition like this is so well deserved, and we couldn’t be prouder to have Taff as part of the team.
👏 🐎 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🫡