What happens during the day?
Our groups run from 10am to 3pm and are limited to just 8 young people, giving everyone plenty of opportunity to get involved. Each day is different, but activities can include:
spending time with and caring for our horses
learning how horses communicate and what their behaviour can tell us
exploring the horses' natural behaviours and needs
creating enrichment activities for the horses
offering horses different herbs and plants and observing their choices
learning how horses make choices and how we can respect those choices
spending time outdoors and exploring nature
working together with other young people
thinking about how animal behaviour can help us understand our own behaviour and emotions
enjoying a relaxed bring-and-share lunch
There is lots of doing, exploring and discovering – this isn't a day of sitting in a classroom!
Who are the groups for?
Our Holiday Youth Groups are for young people aged 11 and over who have an interest in horses, animals, nature or simply trying something different during the school holidays.
You don’t need any previous experience with horses.
Whether your young person is horse-mad or simply curious about what makes horses tick, there's plenty to discover.
We aim to keep our Holiday Youth Groups affordable and accessible, and where funding is available we offer subsidised places for families who may otherwise struggle to afford holiday activities.
More than just a holiday activity
Our Youth Groups are designed to be fun first, but young people often take away much more.
Through practical activities and spending time with the horses, they can develop:
Empathy – learning to notice and respond to the needs of another being
Emotional awareness – becoming more aware of feelings, reactions and body language
Communication – discovering that communication isn't only about words
Confidence – trying new things and experiencing success
Respect for boundaries – learning to recognise and respect the choices of horses and other people
Teamwork – working alongside others towards a shared goal
Curiosity – asking questions, exploring and discovering how things work
Holiday Youth Groups
A day of horses, nature, fun and learning.
Looking for something a little different for your young person during the school holidays?
Our Holiday Youth Groups give young people aged 11+ the opportunity to spend a day outdoors with our horses, learn more about how they think and communicate, try new activities and have fun with other young people.
Based at The Heard Therapy in the beautiful Somerset countryside, our groups combine horses, nature, practical activities and wellbeing in a relaxed and supportive environment.
