Building an Equine Therapy Centre for London

Who are we and what do we do?

Strength and Learning Through Horses is an equine therapy charity working with over 500 of London's most disadvantaged young people each year, helping them to turn their lives around through working with our horses and specialist staff team.

• Over 50% of our young people have required interventions to protect them from harm.
• 53% need support to manage in school
• The majority of our therapy clients refuse to engage in traditional talking therapies but respond to our therapists because of the horses

We have been inundated with referrals since the Covid pandemic as young people find themselves socially isolated, struggling in school and experiencing complex mental health difficulties.

The Story so far......

In 2022, the lease on our home for the last 10 years was terminated, leaving our horses homeless and our young people without a means to the emotional support they rely on. 

Thankfully Barnet Council stepped in and gave us a permanent lease on a derelict stable yard in Barnet. 

We have now completed phase 1 of the build for London’s first dedicated Equine Therapy Centre which opened in Spring 2023. We are grateful to have a permanent home but have a long way to go to finish the build!

Phase 1

We have successfully upgraded the site to create a usable space for our horses, young people and staff. Including:

• A brand new 60 x 30 arena sponsored by Barnet Council & Ascot Racecourse

• Water, electricity and internet connections

• 3 portacabin classrooms and offices

• Temporary disabled accessible toilet block 

• Car Park

• Fenced-in paddocks

• Rubbish removal

• Derelict buildings boarded up and patched up to make them safe

The site is now in full use and is a god send! However we have no stables for the horses or sheltered space for young people to work with horses in bad weather.

Phase 2

To complete our vision of creating London’s only purpose-built equine-assisted therapy centre we will need to raise a further £300,000 to construct buildings for our horses and young people to use:

• A barn and stable block

• Permanent Classrooms & Offices

• Field Shelters

• Sensory Spaces

• Full Disabled Access

• Rewilding of additional land

Our Mission

To reach children and young people with complex mental health and/or learning disabilities. Many come from deprived inner-city areas and have often experienced abuse and violence which has affected their ability to take part in education or work and many experience social exclusion and isolation. 

Our staff team is a dynamic mix of equine specialists, clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, education professionals and dedicated volunteers. Often the horses will help clients engage and reconnect with each other, specialists at the centre and in time others in their social world. 

WE SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO RECONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS, FIND THEIR OWN UNIQUE QUALITIES AND TO FEEL VALUED. OUR CLIENTS & HORSES TEACH EACH OTHER ABOUT RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING