‘It’s hard to be patient when you’re a patient’

JAY HARE (pictured below, far left) knows first hand the positive experience of visiting HorseBack. A Royal Marine corporal, Jay first attended seven years ago after being seriously injured on 5 November 2008 on his third tour of Afghanistan. He lost his left leg below the knee, digits from his right hand, his left eye, his face was degloved and he had severe shrapnel injury.

While Jay was adapting to using the prosthetic leg, and learning to walk again, a friend suggested he visited HorseBack. Although Jay had no experience of riding, Emma taught him to ride western — a style that can be more comfortable and puts less strain on joints and ankles.

“I found working with horses extremely beneficial. It’s hard to be patient when you’re a patient, but working with these animals relaxed me and taught me perseverance. You can’t bully horses, but you can’t be too passive either or they won’t listen. You have to find a balance, like everything in life,” says

Jay, who was determined to get back serving, but was given secondment to join HorseBack towards rehabilitation into the civilian world.

“I’m passionate about the military and can bridge the gap between the attendees and how we’re trying to help them on the course,” says Jay, who in 2014 left the marines and joined the company as operational manager.

His work also includes being a conservation and camping instructor. On the third week the group will ride out onto the hills with the horses, go camping and explore the wild landscape.

Jay has embraced the equestrian lifestyle — he goes to Colorado every year helping with cattle gathering and now owns a palomino quarter horse and enjoys riding out with his wife and two daughters.