Horse Power & Trauma
Sophie never thought spending time with horses would be part of her recovery after enduring domestic violence for eight years.
Her partner broke her back. Her body would absorb his rage when the beatings became her normality. At times she thought she would die. She turned to alcohol and stopped eating. She broke down at work whilst cleaning a couple’s home. She told them everything and they called the police for her.
She shared her story with me for BBC Woman's Hour on Radio 4.
Equine Assisted Learning is a programme developed by Susie. She works with women moving on from domestic abuse, those in recovery from addiction, NHS frontline staff, as well as young people and adults coping with anxiety and depression.
We talked about finding confidence, creating boundaries and her new future filled with hope.
We spent the morning on a farm. Sophie taught me what she's learned from leading and commanding a horse. And when Rocky (a rescue horse) decided he wanted to chew grass rather than walk with me - it was Sophie who showed me what to do.
You can listen here.
