We involve people from local communities to learn how

working horses are relevant to day-to-day life – and, in

the process, teach us about ourselves too.

From anti-bullying interventions to visiting homes for the elderly, working with prisoners or refugees, we have forged links with

our local communities since the start. Horses and humans

have worked together for centuries. We are now building on

this relationship to develop stronger communities.

We do this by using our horses to bring people closer to nature –

and helping them learn from nature. At the same time, we also promote the Shire horse breed as an endangered species.

Words cannot do justice to

what people experience when face to face with a huge horse that weighs over a ton

HRH The Prince of Wales

COMMUNITY OPTIONS

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR TYPES OF COMMUNITY WORK UNDER THE LINKS BELOW.

01 BUILDING

COMMUNITIES

02 CENTAUR

CONNECTIONS

03 CORPORATE

DAYS

OPTIONS

BUILDING COMMUNITIES

All schools know the devastating and long-term impact of bullying,
both to the individual and the whole school culture.

By learning how to tackle bullying, young people can develop valuable skills which will keep them and others safe throughout their lives.

Operation Centaur offer an effective anti-bullying intervention using Equine Assisted Learning, aimed at reducing bullying in schools and enabling young people to recognise and challenge bullying behaviour – in all its forms. We have all learned about preventing bullying – but what if your teacher weighs more than a ton? And happens to be a horse?

During weekly sessions, based on principles of Equine Assisted Learning widely used in the USA, pupils experience guided observation of horse behaviour and learn to interact with horses. Through learning to interact and communicate with horses in non-verbal ways pupils learn vital teamwork skills and about themselves. This learning is powerful and immediate. Many of the participants will never have come into contact with a horse before, and all work is done from the ground.

The programme teaches young people cooperative group work and inclusion, rather than competition and exclusion.

Our 2015 Hyde Park Project was covered by BBC London News – read more

Is your school interested to take part?

BUILDING COMMUNITIES

CONNECTIONS

CENTAUR

CONNECTIONS

People with special needs

Grace approached Jim, a 20-something Shire horse, as she does everything in her life – her arm across her face, elbow pointing skywards, head bent to one side. She glances furtively at him. She is caught out that his eyes are on the side of his head, and briefly makes eye contact. Tears fill her eyes. In later sessions, she confidently stays on her own with two horses in the arena. She walks in the field with the herd and smiles.

We were told that Jamie never sits still, and has very bad spatial awareness. Contact with the horses seems to contain him, and stop him in his tracks. In session two, he was sitting on the ground, legs folded, staring at Jim in front of the gate. In session twelve, he was leaning against the fence, with Heath and Likely Lad on either side of him.

Jack brings his football to the sessions, and teaches us how to kick it. As we pretend not to understand, he meticulously moves us in such a way that we learn how to play though his teaching. He is careful to wait for the horses to walk by before he kicks.

Nicole is like a whirlwind when she enters. She tries to jump on the horses, but they won’t stand still. Zoltan is with his mare, Philippa, and he sends Nicole away with a single head movement – she understands and backs off. In session seven, she tries to mount Jim, who stands at 18 hands. She climbs the fence to be higher. In session eleven, she again tries to jump on Zoltan. They enter a ‘dance’, where both are turning so they keep facing each other. Zoltan gives several warnings, with head, ears and legs, which she understands. Nicole climbs out of the arena and brings some grass, which she offers to Zoltan. He accepts the food, when she then tries to mount him, he still prevents her from doing so.

Ahmed runs towards the big horse and beats him with both fists, hard. As he feels that the horse is not moving, a smile beams across his face. He gently kisses the horse.

CORPORATE DAYS

Offering free Corporate Social Responsibility to organizations

Corporate Social Responsibility has increasingly become important for organizations. We offer any type of organizations the opportunity to volunteer with us and while learning about horses and nature, learn about themselves, too.

CORPORAT DAYS

COTACT US