Horses 4 Health (H4H) aims to celebrate how horses can help with your mental health and well-being whilst raising money for equine organisations across the UK.
Running from 14th May to 31st August equine lovers are encouraged to sign up for free and pledge to make time to Hack and Chat (or Walk and Talk) with friends whilst raising money for equine charities. In an exciting new development, this year Horses4Health is extending its support to organisations offering Equine Assisted Services.
The event, now in its third year, supported the work of over 17 small equine charities and 33 RDA groups, granting out more than £50K in funds raised through Horses 4Health via the Equine Welfare Grants Scheme in 2022.
HorseWorld Discovery, an innovative learning programme which brings together disadvantaged and vulnerable young people and adults with gentle, rescued horses, was one of the 2022 beneficiaries.
The Grant scheme also supported The Hugs Foundation, who utilised their grant towards the veterinary costs for a group of 8 orphaned Dartmoor foals.
The foals were unclaimed by farmers during the Dartmoor drift round-ups, with some of the foals becoming separated.
They, along with the foals too young to go to either the sales or be returned to the moors without their mum, would be at risk of being culled.
The Horses4Health Equine Welfare Grant has supported The Hugs Foundation to be able to rescue 8 orphan foals and 1 yearling. The funding has gone towards their specialist feed, first vaccinations, microchips, passports, worming and initial vet checks. The Hugs Foundation stepped in to save the 8 foals and benefitted directly from the H4H Equine Grants Scheme which funded the veterinary treatment, setting them on a journey of rehabilitation and rehoming.
"The Horses4Health Equine Welfare Grant has supported The HugsFoundation to be able to rescue 8 orphan foals and 1 yearling. The funding hasgone towards their specialist feed, first vaccinations, microchips, passports,worming and initial vet checks.
"They have also been strangles tested and now they are old enough, the coltshave been castrated. The team are working with them to gain their trust andonce they are confident with people, we will be able to find them their forever homes.
"They are going to make lovely companions or children’s ponies. If it wasn’t forthis grant and our amazing supporters, the sad reality is that these orphanswould have been culled. Thank you to all that have been involved in giving thema future.”
Laura, Hugs Foundation
Moorland Mousie was also granted funds to support rescued pony, Honey, in her recovery and rehabilitation. She will also potentially play a part in the charity’s equine therapy work, which supports over 600 vulnerable and disadvantaged people every year.
Horses 4 Health Founder Sophie Gifford said “It is amazing to think that this initiative, born out of Covid lockdown, is now helping equine charities in need. With the economic crisis equine charities are stretched to their limits and initiatives like Horses for Health are vital to their survival.
“I am so excited that this year we’re extending our support to those offering EquineAssisted Services. So many of us personally know the power horses have to heal and help when we are facing challenging times, and there are many fantastic organisations out there bringing horses and vulnerable people together with wonderfully positive consequences.”
Participants can sign up for FREE and connect with a 10,000–strong Facebook Community already supporting the event.
The H4H Hack and Chat Challenge is supported by Horse & Rider magazine, SEIB, HorseHealth Programme, BETA, B&W Veterinary and EquineXceed.