Residents at a care home in Horsham are benefitting from regular visits to a local equine rehabilitation charity.
Since taking its residents to Moorcroft Equine Rehabilitation Centre in Slinfold in the summer, Barchester Westlake House Care Home has noticed marked improvements in their short-term memory, confidence and social engagement.
The residents – many of who are in their 80s and 90s – interact with rehabilitating horses in a calm and therapeutic setting at the charity which gives lame and injured horses a second chance at life.
“The visits to Moorcroft are greatly anticipated and extremely popular among our residents for a variety of different reasons. Some residents have a life-long love for horses, others want to connect with grandchildren who ride,” said Barchester Westlake’s activities co-ordinator Rosie Duhig.
Improved memory
“However, what’s truly remarkable is the transformative effects on the health and overall wellbeing among those participating.
“Most noticeable is the improvement in memory. Many of our residents are living with short-term memory loss and often struggle to recall what they did the day before.
“However, the horse and staff at the charity have made such a big impression, our residents are still talking animatedly about their time at Moorcroft days later and, for many, it has reawakened past memories and experiences.
“This is in addition to a fantastic boost in their self-confidence and social engagement. On the day, they ask lots of questions and have a really good chat with the team at Moorcroft and conversations continue back at Westlake as they share and discuss photos taken from the visit.
“It’s been joy for the staff to see many, especially those who are normally reluctant to participate in group activities, come out of their shell and forge friendships by sharing their experiences of their time spent with the horses.”
As well as welcoming residents from Westlake, Moorcroft has also been busy treating an increasing number of horses. It treated almost 50% more horses in May 2025 compared with a typical month, driven by a surge in owners seeking expert support, early intervention and preventative care.
Images © Moorcroft Equine Rehabilitation Centre.
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