‘If I can get over my fear of horses, I can do anything’

Roisin Moran is just one of many children whose lives have been turned around at the National Lottery-funded Equine Enrichment Centre

WHEN Roisin Moran was permanently excluded from school just before her GCSES, she saw her dreams for the future disappear.

“I wanted to take my exams so I could start a job in childcare,” she says. “It had been my dream to look after children, but now it didn’t look like it was going to happen.”

Roisin, 18, from Derry/londonderry, had been a good student at school and very capable. She hadn’t been in trouble until an incident led to her expulsion.

“My c o n f i d e n c e plummeted,” she says. “I didn’t have any confidence in myself and I couldn’t really tal k to any on e. I was scared of taking my exams because I wa sn’ t i n s c h o o l anymore and I didn’t know what to do.”

That all changed when Louise Moorhead and her stable of horses galloped into Roisin’s life. Louise, who is a trained therapist and youth worker, brought her love of horses to her work helping troubled kids.

LIFELONG PASSION

on, generation to generation. There is something about the horse that has potential to break that circle. It helps children build a vocabulary of emotions so they can speak more easily and take control.”

She admits that even she was amazed at how successful their programme has been. “We offer anything from a four-hour workshop to a 10-week course,” she says.

“We measure self-esteem and mental wellbeing before and after the children have attended. Even after four hours we were noticing an improvement in mental wellbeing, and their confidence was boosted.

“A lot of our young people have never had the opportunity to spend time with h o r s e s . Th e y ’re b i g , st r o n g , p o we r f u l animals and people are just terrified of them. It’s about overcoming those fears and building confidence.”

Roisin agrees: “I ’ve always liked horses, but I was too scared to go near them. I was really down before I went to the centre. I had a fear because the horses were so big. As

WELL-GROOMED Roisin has learned how to face her fears

“Our aim is to improve mental health with interaction through horses,” says Louise. “It’s been my lifelong passion. We set up the Equine Enrichment Centre in Derry in 2017, thanks to funding from The National Lottery. And since then, we’ve been able to help over 150 children.”

The centre is just one of many good causes benefiting from the £30million* raised every week when you play The National Lottery.

Horses might not seem the obvious therapist for a generation of children who are not only struggling with the pandemic but also transgenerational traumas caused by the Troubles. “Derry is an epicentre of violence,” says Louise. “Research suggests trauma is passed soon as I got over my fear, I realised that I can get over anything. If I’ve managed to muck out, walk a horse and clean the shoes and groom their tail , I can do an exam. I wouldn’t have had as much self-belief in myself if I hadn’t spent time with the horses.”

FEELING GOOD

Roisin was made a peer leader at the centre before Covid-19 put everything on pause.

“I had a group of children who I would tell about my experiences,” she says. “It made me feel good that I could help the young ones.”

Louise adds: “We received funding through The National Lottery’s People’s Projects scheme last year. They’ve been so supportive.”

RIDING HIGH Horses have built her confidence

HORSE PLAY Roisin and mentor Louise with their pal