Restart
Our flagship programme, TheHorseCourse ReStart, is a well-evidenced equine-assisted intervention designed to help people develop practical skills that can make a positive difference in everyday life.
The ReStart is designed for children, young people (8+years) and adults experiencing low to medium-level mental health and wellbeing needs, including low confidence, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, disengagement, difficulties with relationships or motivation, and a range of diagnosed or emerging mental health needs.
Learning through doing
The ReStart is different from traditional talking-based support. Sessions are hands-on, practical and action-based, with participants working directly with horses through a series of carefully selected activities and exercises.
Participants are given opportunities to try, practise and repeat different skills in real situations. The horses provide immediate, honest feedback through their behaviour and body language. Participants learn to notice how their own body language, focus, emotions and actions affect what happens around them. They can see what happens when they change their approach, learn from mistakes and experience the satisfaction of successfully completing something they may initially have found difficult.
The skills developed during these activities are not just about working with horses. They are transferable to everyday life — helping participants build confidence, manage emotions, communicate more effectively, stay focused, deal with challenges, develop resilience and take greater responsibility.
A programme tailored to the individual
The ReStart is delivered one-to-one with a facilitator, allowing the sessions to be adapted to each participant's needs, starting point and desired outcomes.
The programme is usually delivered over five consecutive days, for approximately two hours each day. Where a more gradual approach is appropriate, sessions can instead be spread over two to three weeks to better fit the participant's needs.
Every session is built around practical activities with the horses. No previous horse or riding experience is needed, and all activities are ground-based — there is no riding involved.
who is a restart for?
The ReStart can be suitable for children, young people (8+years) and adults who may be:
- Experiencing anxiety or low mood
- Struggling with confidence or self-esteem
- Finding it difficult to regulate emotions
- Disengaged from education, work or other activities
- Experiencing difficulties with communication or relationships
- Finding traditional support difficult to engage with
- Living with a diagnosed or emerging mental health need
The programme is adapted to the individual, with activities and goals selected according to their needs and the outcomes they are working towards.
GET IN TOUCH to find out more
We support children, young people and adults with mild to moderate needs, tailoring our sessions to each individual’s needs, strengths with focus on achieving the outcomes that matter to each person.