Our Education Team

Our experienced team’s professional backgrounds are in both education and equine welfare

All team members are qualified equine assisted learning facilitators, have completed specialist training and hold recognised, regulated qualifications relevant to their roles in addition to their initial qualifications in education and human development. We strive for excellence through reflective practice and continuous professional development.

We are trained Mental Health First Aiders. Whilst we recognise that our outcomes may be therapeutic, we do not set clinical, treatment or care outcomes because we are not health professionals. We are aware of and work within our professional limits.

If we are working with a participant who is not already in contact with support services or a health professional, we will refer them onto relevant professionals whilst remaining in contact with the participant. This could be their GP, workplace occupational health team or another health practitioner.

horse with staff

Dawn Neil, Head of Education, EAL Lead Facilitator

BA(Hons) Primary Education, Qualified Teacher Status, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation, Mental Health First Aider

Alison Murray, Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator

L3 Beach Schools Practitioner, L3 Assessing Vocational Achievements, L4 Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation, Mental Health First Aider

Alison Murray with horse
horse with volunteer

Elaine Fawcett, Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator

L3 Forest Schools Leader, L1 and 2 Makaton, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation, Mental Health First Aider

Louise Sharpe, Accredited Professional Coach (BHS APC), EAL Facilitator

British Horse Society (BHS) Accredited Professional Coach Level 4 in complete horsemanship, Centre10 Applied Psychology Equestrian coaching, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation, Mental Health First Aider

horse with volunteer
horse with volunteer

Amy Dearlove, EAL Equine Specialist Lead

Degree in Animal Behaviour and Psychology, L3 National Diploma in Animal Management, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation, Mental Health First Aider

Abigail Sparkes, Sanctuary Care Team Member, EAL Equine Specialist

BSc Honours degree in Equitation Science, L3 National Diploma in Horse Management, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation

Bethany Orchard-Mitchell, Sanctuary Care Team Leader, EAL Equine Specialist

Degree in Animal Science and Management, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation

Sally Burton, Head of Sanctuary Care, EAL Equine Specialist

L3 Diploma in Equine Welfare, Legislation & Field Skills, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation, Mental Health First Aider

Syra Bowden, Director of Equine, EAL Equine Specialist

BHSHM – British Horse Society Horse Masters, QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation, Mental Health First Aider

Dawn Vincent, Director of Fundraising and Communications, EAL Facilitator

QQI L6 Festina Lente EAL Facilitation, Mental Health First Aider

What We Do

Visit Our Sanctuary

Connect with our rescued horses and ponies, hear their back stories and meet the knowledgeable grooms who care for them.
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Get Some Advice

We provide advice and support to horse owners or people who are thinking about getting a horse or pony. We also offer support to smaller equine welfare sanctuaries and other equine professionals.
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Support the Charity

We rely entirely on donations and legacy gifts to carry out our work. A donation today can help to sustain our ability to offer sanctuary for horses and ponies.
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