Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

The scheme is aimed
at young people
Pictures by the BHS, Mark Fairhurst, Allstar Picture Library/Alamy, Selene Scarsi, Peter Nixon and Getty Images
A year on, scheme
is Changing Lives
British Horse Society initiative is living
up to its name, a year after its launch
IN its first year, the British Horse
Society’s (BHS) Changing Lives
Through Horses has lived up to
its name, with 71% of participants
“re-engaging” with society.
The initiative, launched last
January, has more than doubled in
size, with 30 participating centres
from an initial 12.
Its aim is to support young
people who are, or are at risk
of becoming, NEETs — not
in employment, education or
training. Participants work with
horses, with the aim of getting
them back into society.
More than 100 young people
have accessed Changing Lives so
far and the BHS wants to expand,
with more coaches and centres
and supporting more participants.
“We want it to grow as much
as possible, but it relies on
donations and sponsorship, so
we can only grow as fast as funds
allow,” programme leader Katie
Field told H&H.“What’sso
important, from the start it’s been
quality over quantity; making
sure centres are comfortable and
coaches supported so they can
support the young people.
“We need to monitor and
evaluate to make sure it’s having
the effect we want it to.”
Ms Field explained this would
mean the scheme’s success would
be “proved”, and ensure its aims
By ELEANOR JONES
and methods will be consistent
with government policy.
Asked what would be the best
thing a participant could say, Ms
Field said: “Just that they wouldn’t
be where they are now without it.
“Then we know it’s having the
impact we want — and we do hear
that, frequently.
“All the success stories are
massive but some — the selective
mute who said his first words to
a horse and his parents heard, or
students who thought they’d never
achieve anything but are doing
their GCSEs — are monumental.”
BHS CEO Lynn Petersen said
the charity is “deeply pleased”.
“The horses gave [the
young people] confidence and
motivation to change the course
of their lives,” she said. “We are
proud of the young people, and of
the horses who gave them support
when they needed it most.”
Melissa, who was unable to
cope in mainstream schools owing
to a disability, is back in education
and working for her exams, since
accessing the programme.
“We really can’t believe it,” her
mother said. “It’s life-changing,
completely and utterly.”
● Visit: bhs.org.uk/
changinglivesthroughhorses
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Dutch Olympic
showjumper
Maikel van der
Vleuten broke
a bone in his
hand at Jumping
Amsterdam. His horse Salomon
suffered a tendon injury. The pair
are hoped to make a full recovery.
Former Hovis
CEO Martyn
Wilks has been
appointed senior
independent
director of the
British Equestrian Federation
board. He is also a non-executive
director of Netball England.
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