Local MP John Lamont has hailed the work of Berwickshire based Horse Time following a visit to the charity.
The organisation offers a range of courses and workshops for people struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, as well as helping children and adolescents with complex needs all based around working with horses.
It’s Horses for Forces programme offers veterans and first responders who have suffered trauma, residential therapy to provide coping strategies. Because horses are hypersensitive, the therapy teaches servicemen to regulate their own emotions.
Vince Davidson, who served in the King's Own Scottish Borderers, seeing active service in Northern Ireland and the Gulf now volunteers on the Horses for Forces programmes after working with horses helped him come to terms with his own trauma.
Founded by Sue Brewis, who is a fully qualified psychological trauma therapist, the charity also provides day courses for teenagers and school based programmes to help with emotional regulation, self awareness, depression and anxiety to local youngsters.
Horse Time has been chosen as the Sainsburys in Kelso’s local charity of the year.
John was invited along to hear about the work Horse Time do and was given the opportunity to ride Billy to learn about how horses respond to physiological cues from riders.
Speaking after the visit, John Lamont MP said: “It was fascinating to hear about how horses can help people get through all sorts of mental illnesses from trauma to anxiety and depression.
“Sue and her team at Horse Time are really passionate about the work they do and I really think the NHS and care providers need to look closely at programmes like this for some of their patients.
“It was great to have a ride on Billy, the gentle giant. He was incredibly responsive to my breathing and movements and it was a brief insight into how effective therapy involving horses can be.”
Explaining the work of the charity, Horse Time founder Sue Brewis said: “It is the horses’ ability to provide people with instant and honest feedback that provides us with the insight we need to change our behaviour.
“Working with horses in this way makes us aware of negative coping habits that could be holding us back. We then facilitate experiences that explore other ways of interacting within the safety of our therapeutic herd.
“This helps people overcome obstacles and challenges more successfully, strengthening new neural pathways that allow us to start living the way we want.”