Somerset equine therapy used to rehabilitate ex-offenders

Key4Life offers music, sport and equine therapy to men who have a history of criminal behaviour

An equine therapy rehabilitation programme has successfully helped support a group of ex-offenders.

Crime prevention charity Key4Life, which is based in Butleigh, Somerset, helps men who have a history of drug and gang-related offences.

The initiative was started by Eva Hamilton MBE, in response to the English riots of 2011.

She credited the horses' ability to get the men to open up, saying "it's incredible what these animals can do".

Ms Hamilton and the team visit prisons around the country as well as offering help and support to those who are at risk of being jailed.

They work with ex-offenders from Bridgwater, Street and Bristol.

Ms Hamilton said the animals are "the single most important intervention", due to their "magic" way of forming connections with people.

Eva Hamilton MBE said the horses are "incredible"

At the end of the equine therapy, participants are encouraged to write their future aspirations onto ribbons which are then tied onto the horses' manes.

As the horses gallop away, it symbolises the men's hopes going out into the world, Ms Hamilton said.

Patrick has benefitted from the programme after spending much of his life feeling "very misunderstood", partly due to his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Patrick said his life has been "difficult"

"A lot of people out there could be stuck in the same patterns for the next 20 years and something as simple as Key4Life stepping into people's lives could have such an everlasting effect," he said.

"I think that's what it's had on me - it's helped me wake up to some of my flaws, it's helped me wake up to things that I need to change. Every session is educational."

Sam, who was an aspiring athlete as a teenager, "spiralled" as a result of family conflict.

It caused him to fall into the wrong crowd and led to drug usage and theft.

Sam said Key4Life has been his "saviour"

He began rehabilitation with Key4Life in 2023.

"They've taught me some good qualities and skills in managing my emotions, my behaviour and offending patterns.

"From someone who never saw hope and never saw a way out - I thought I was going to be wrapped up in that lifestyle forever," he said.

He added that the horses helped him to forget his troubles.

"They're free spirited animals, so it brings out the free spirit in yourself," he said.

Sam is training to be a mentor with the charity, and hopes to progress to the Open University to achieve a case management degree.