The benefits of equine- and nature-based therapies for serving military and emergency service workers are to be assessed by a new research network.

Nature-Based Interventions and Equine Therapies for Uniformed Public Services (NEITUPS) is a new group, set up by UK military social research expert Dr Chris Kay and Jonathan Friedlander, who runs the Equustrong Centre in the US.

They will be working with several equine-assisted services (EAS) this autumn to see how time in nature and working with horses can support people who are struggling with the effects of trauma and poor mental health. 

Dr Kay said that a lack of evidence for the benefits of equine and nature courses means that they are under-utilised in the military and emergency services.

Research so far has focussed on veterans rather than serving personnel.

Mental resilience

The research is funded by Anglia Ruskin University and will include several EAS providers, including Wiltshire-based Warrior Equine.

Warrior Equine’s CEO Ele Milwright said: “We’re delighted to be part of this network to develop much needed independent, academic research to help the key decision makers and funders truly understand the profound, positive effects that equine-assisted mental wellbeing programmes can deliver.

“We have built a strong reputation within the Armed Forces for our specialist expertise, working with both veterans and serving personnel.” 

Warrior Equine will deliver two equine-assisted mental resilience courses as part of the collaboration. 

One will be for British Army serving soldiers and the second for West Midlands Police for officers and support staff who are struggling with the effects of post-traumatic stress experienced in the line of duty. 

The project was launched in Hyde Park London, with two of the Household Cavalry’s drum horses, Apollo and Juno, in attendance.

Main image © Anglia Ruskin University

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