Founder of mental health equine charity made MBE

Harriet Laurie uses horses to help people better cope with anxiety

A woman who founded an equine charity to help disadvantaged people has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours List.

Harriet Laurie founded The Horse Course in 2010 to help people with anxiety and other issues and has trained others to set up similar sites across Britain.

The site at Weymouth helps about 700 people a year, free of charge, through courses with specially-trained horses.

Ms Laurie said she was "thrilled" that her efforts had been recognised.

The charity first started in Portland Prison before opening its centre in Weymouth.

Ms Laurie said: "When someone's calm, the horse can pick that up and reflect it back - so we do lots of fun things but they are for a purpose and they teach people those core psycho-social skills."

People are usually referred to the course by local authorities

Ms Laurie also offers free tuition for others who wish to learn the therapies and there are now 12 similar centres around the country.

Ms Laurie said: "We work with people who are struggling with mental health or behaviour, maybe having difficulty at school, but we go right from eight years old to adults and whole families."

The success of the programme is measured through partnerships with universities, as well as outcomes such as reoffending and returning to school.

Ms Laurie said: "We have really seen positive results, so we know it works. We don't quite understand exactly how, but we are working on that as well."

Reflecting on her award, she said: "I slightly wish it didn't include the word Empire because I find that a bit distasteful but I think of it as a community award.

"It's about what my whole team has done over the years and the way we've helped other people set up similar organisations around the country."

A number of other Dorset residents are also included in the honours list.

The Reverend Christopher Colledge is chairman of Bournemouth in Bloom

Janie Frampton from Blandford Forum - one of the first women to come through the men's professional game of football in England as a referee - has been made an OBE for services to equality for women in sport in the UK and abroad.

Samuel Braddick from Gillingham, the Rev Christopher Colledge from Bournemouth and Deborah Dixon from Poole have all been made MBEs for their services to the community.

Mr Colledge, who was ordained 43 years ago, immersed himself in numerous community projects while rebuilding his life following a mental breakdown in 2002. He is chairman of the award-winning Bournemouth in Bloom and champions gardening as a means of helping people with their mental health.

He said of the award: "This especially means so much as, since being unwell, it has been a very challenging and hard journey to regain self-worth, respect and dignity.

"I commend all who are going through mental health issues not to feel embarrassed or despairing but to know that there are people who care about them and who want to give appropriate support and help."

Elizabeth Billington, from Christchurch, who is chair of the Gypsy and Traveller organisation Kushti Bok and vice-chair of Dorset Council Gypsy Traveller Forum, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the Gypsy and Traveller Community in Dorset.

Alison Buchanan, from Bovington, who is founder of The British Horse Society Changing Lives Awards and a trustee of the Will Does charity, has also been awarded a BEM for services to Young People.

Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset Ian Angus Campbell has been made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).

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