Equine ministry marks 15 years of transforming young UK lives
- kirranicolle
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
A Salvation Army program in western Gloucestershire, England, is this year marking 15 years of offering equine therapy through a unique ministry program.
The Forest of Dean Salvation Army’s GLEAM (Growth and Learning Equine Assisted Ministry) assists vulnerable children and teens to build confidence, process trauma, and develop emotional resilience. In addition to equine therapy, the program offers bushcraft, art therapy, and certified horse-care courses.
Vivienne Prescott is the leader of the Forest of Dean Salvation Army and is also a qualified equine-assisted practitioner.
The program operates from a three-acre plot of land, which is home to four ponies, four sheep, two goats, dogs and chickens, all led by Custard, a 30-year-old pony that Vivienne rescued 20 years ago.
The program started in 2010, when a mother of a struggling teenage daughter sought Vivienne’s help to address the girl’s behaviours.
“She was throwing things, full of rage, and her mum didn’t know how to help,” Vivienne said. “I only had time to see her while mucking out my horses, so I invited her along. When my horse reacted to her anger by cowering, it was a turning point. She learned to calm herself, and the horse responded. That moment showed me the power of this connection.”
Vivienne said the program has been an amazing experience for everyone involved, and they are grateful to be part of many children’s healing journeys.
“You know the power of this work when you bump into a young adult in the street and the first thing they say to you is ‘GLEAM saved my life’,” Vivienne said. “For some children, building a relationship with a being that allows you to be congruent and does not judge or have any expectations about you other than enjoying the joy of your presence can be absolutely life-changing.
“The ponies help them see their true value, strength, and ability, and whereas they may have refused to receive this message from a parent or teacher, they will receive it from the pony. It is very simple, but deeply profound.”
The team at this unusual ministry is planning to expand the work of the program, through adding a nature-based learning environment for children struggling to access traditional schooling.
The content and photos from this article first appeared on the Salvation Army UK page here.
