A HORSE therapy organisation in Weymouth has been honoured by the High Sheriff of Dorset for its work with vulnerable people.
Dr Michael Dooley presented his High Sheriff award to staff and volunteers of mental health charity TheHorseCourse, in Littlemead, Weymouth on Friday (September 17).
TheHorseCourse, whose patrons include actor Martin Clunes, has built its reputation by helping people from the age of eight to adults referred by social workers, mental health professionals, teachers and doctors if traditional talking therapies are not working.
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Dr Dooley said: "What TheHorseCourse does is inspirational.
"It's doing immense good for the local community with a dedicated staff and a total commitment to the cause.
"It fits very much within my project of the year, which is called Creating Harmony in the Community - by connecting people to themselves, by connecting people to animals and by connecting people to nature.
“Handling horses does require a certain amount of technique but this is a particular kind of understanding animals. The interaction between humans and animals is absolutely fantastic."
With the help of its 12-strong herd of horses TheHorseCourse teaches eight core resilience skills to improve mental health to participants referred by professionals.
Following on from the equine-assisted interventions, there is a supported volunteering programme focussed on horticulture and hens, which provides experience of growing and cooking healthy food which supplies the Nest - a local food bank.
Dr Dooley, an experienced horseman himself, heard about the charity through word of mouth and came to visit the Weymouth site to see for himself the work it does with those hard-to-engage individuals who are not responding to talking therapies.
Dr Dooley has worked was doctor to the Olympic equestrian team in both the Sydney and Atlanta Olympics as well as several world and European championships.
He said with his knowledge he was not surprised how the horses respond to our emotions.
"I was so impressed how you use those connections in a therapeutic way," he said.
Harriet Laurie, who started the charity 11 years ago, said: "It's lovely to receive an honour like this - recognising the life-changing work of the staff, the horses and our indomitable band of volunteers."
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