Horse power that heals

Monday 20th September 2010, 2:58PM BST.

Ruth Le Cocq, Hannah Clarke and ?????Vicki Twohig with an equine friend. Picture: David Ferguson (01044793)

Ruth Le Cocq, Hannah Clarke and senior youth worker Vicki Twohig with an equine friend. Picture: David Ferguson (01044793)

A GROUNDBREAKING scheme has been launched to help young women overcome emotional difficulties.

The Youth Service and Equus Two have teamed up to use horses as a way of boosting the confidence of those needing help.

Ruth Le Cocq, who founded Equus Two, said that horses often mirrored what people were feeling. ‘So if a person was frightened, a horse would mirror that emotion,’ she said. ‘If you are angry and are suppressing the anger, the horse will bring that out and people realise just how angry they really are.’

Hannah Clarke, a senior youth worker currently training to be an Equine Facilitated Learning practitioner, introduced the scheme to the Jersey Youth Enquiry Service team, which also includes Vicki Twohig.

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