Member Spotlight: Willow Farm Equine Assisted Therapy CIC

A place to breathe, rebuild confidence and find connection 

At Willow Farm, support does not begin in a clinical room. It might start while grooming a horse, learning how to lead one safely or simply spending time outdoors without any pressure to talk. 

Based at a small rural horse ranch in Fulbeck, Willow Farm Equine Assisted Therapy CIC offers a different kind of support for adults experiencing poor mental health, emotional difficulties, loneliness or challenges with their overall wellbeing. 

The organisation provides a safe, non-judgmental and non-clinical environment where people can take part in therapeutic activities involving horses. Sessions are professionally facilitated and available in small groups, with one-to-one support also offered.

Support without pressure 

For some people, accessing support through a traditional or clinical setting can feel daunting. Willow Farm offers an alternative: a quiet, relaxed outdoor space where mental health can be acknowledged without becoming the sole focus of every conversation. 

There is no expectation for anyone to share more than they are comfortable with. People can talk if they want to, but they are equally welcome to spend time with the horses, focus on a practical activity or simply enjoy a little respite from everyday life. 

The team includes facilitating listeners with their own lived experience, helping to create an atmosphere grounded in understanding rather than judgement. Alongside the activities, participants can begin developing practical self-help techniques to support them beyond their time at the farm. 

Why horses? 

Horses respond closely to body language, energy and emotion. They do not judge, rush or expect people to find the right words. Instead, they react honestly to what is happening around them. 

Through activities such as horse care, handling and structured exercises, participants can explore confidence, trust, patience, communication and personal boundaries. Completing a task or building a relationship with such a large and sensitive animal can create a real sense of achievement. 

The focus is not on riding. It is on working alongside the horses and learning through that relationship. No previous experience with horses is needed. 

For people living with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma or social isolation, the sessions may provide an opportunity to slow down, feel grounded and reconnect with their own abilities. Equine-assisted activity is offered as complementary support and can sit alongside any other health or wellbeing services someone may already be accessing. 

Creating connection beyond the sessions 

The small-group approach is an important part of Willow Farm’s work. Bringing together people with similar experiences can help new friendships and informal support networks develop naturally, without forcing conversation. 

The organisation also runs Saturday Socials with Equine Friends, offering another opportunity for people to spend time around the horses and connect with others in a welcoming environment. 

One participant, sharing their experience through H.A.Y. Lincolnshire, described how the space had helped them build confidence and speak openly without fear of being judged. Crucially, they could return home feeling a greater sense of peace. 

That ability to offer both connection and space is central to Willow Farm. Some people arrive ready to talk. Others simply need somewhere calm where they can “just be”. Both are equally welcome. 

Finding the right way forward 

Alongside its equine-assisted work, Willow Farm offers other wellbeing activities, including Lego, line dancing and general wellbeing support. Line dancing for mental health and wellbeing takes place in The American Barn, a separate business located on the same site at Willow Farm Equine Assisted Therapy. The barn is also available to hire for meetings, training and corporate functions, with more information at www.theamericanbarn.co.uk. 

Self-referrals and professional referrals are both welcomed. Current equine-assisted therapy sessions are available free of charge, with participants asked to commit to six sessions over a six-month period. Booking is essential. 

Willow Farm Equine Assisted Therapy CIC shows what community-based mental health support can look like when it is shaped around the person. By combining nature, practical activity, lived experience and the unique presence of horses, it provides a place where people can begin to feel safer, stronger and less alone. 

Find out more 

Willow Farm is based at Brant Road, Fulbeck, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 3JA. 

Visit the 4 Strides Equestrian website, email info@willowfarmequineassistedtherapycic.co.uk or call 07771 882822. 

People can also find Willow Farm through H.A.Y. Lincolnshire and Connect to Support Lincolnshire.