“Through participating in the Youth Initiative, we watch the whole person develop as they learn new skills, get into the habit of hard work, and discover that they can do things they never dreamt of.

Learning to work with a horse is one of the most intricate and challenging things anyone can do. Gaining its trust, teaching it to follow you and respond to your signals, requires a combination of confidence, calm, patience and thought. The pupils are responsible for working with their horse which gives them the chance to become a leader. Over time they develop attributes such as kindness, patience, consistency, belief and self-confidence, all of which are transferrable life skills.

Our evidence gathering from classroom teachers, parents and from the pupils themselves has shown that pupils are more engaged in classroom activities. They are able to listen and contribute more effectively and show more confidence in class discussions. Parents have reported that their child is happier and is better equipped to deal with social situations outside of school.”