Making a Difference has access to all the Hayswood Equestrian horses and ponies who all have their own stories to tell.  With undercover stables and two arenas and canter track it is the perfect setting for equine learning.

What is Therapeutic Horsemanship?

Therapeutic horsemanship is a method of building confidence and self-awareness using horses and ponies. It gives individuals the opportunity to build social and communication skills, emotional control and patience through both ridden exercises and stable management. Therapeutic horsemanship has been proven beneficial in a range of individuals including those suffering from anxiety disorders, phobias, substance addiction, mental illness, learning difficulties and PTSD.

Benefits

  • Exercise in the fresh air, away from the pressures of everyday life
  • Confidence and self-esteem building 
  • Developing patience and empathy 
  • Emotional control and self-discipline
  • Social skills and friendships
  • Development of respect and a love for animals
  • Responsibility and care for both animals and people
  • Poise, posture, strength, and flexibility
  • Balance and co-ordination
  • Therapeutic muscle stimulation
  • Goal setting and achievement

Why Making a Difference? 

Linda launched Making a Difference in 2020 after seeing a demand for therapeutic horsemanship in a relaxed equine environment in the local area. Linda has been running the riding school for over 20 years with extensive experience teaching children and adults of all levels to ride, she has seen first-hand the benefits the horses can have with everyone who walks through the gates. Here at Hayswood Equestrian we have access to over 30 horses and ponies, all with their own story to tell. Recently moving to a new location with large undercover stables, two arenas and a canter track, set in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside, Hayswood Equestrian is the perfect setting for equine learning.

Instructor Testimonial

I have been teaching with Making a Difference since it was launched in 2020 and have noticed the benefits first hand. Many of the children get the opportunity to work on the ground with the horses, getting involved in their care as well as learning how to ride in a fun and safe environment. The children grow in confidence with every session and develop beautiful connections with the ponies they meet, it offers a stable, safe, and fun environment and a chance to be themselves. Horses are incredible animals that are sensitive to human body language and emotion, they really can tell how we are feeling, and this makes them such beneficial tools in a therapeutic setting.”

Parent Testimonial

Linda, the team and the horses have changed my autistic, 7-year old’s life. She is unable to attend school through extreme anxiety and cannot leave my side but being with the pony’s and staff at Hayswood has given her confidence that we have never seen before. The stable and Linda through their Making a Difference program are doing everything possible to change the lives of families like ours and she always goes the extra mile. The stables and horses are so beautifully kept and show days, fun days etc are well organised and perfectly executed. My daughter has attended 3 fun days and has managed to go on her own without me for the first time which is ground-breaking for her and us as a family. I cannot recommend them highly enough.”