A HERD of horses on a farm in Dorset are showing service men and women how to heal from depression and trauma.

Horserenity CIC was founded seven years ago and works with the horse-to-human connection.

Since then, the team has spent time guiding those struggling with mental well-being with interactions with a herd of horses.

Horserenity, located at Kites Farm in Tin Pot Lane, Blandford Forum, has recently launched a programme for service men and women.

Sarah Vivian, founder and director, said: “Horses have been around for over 50 million years; they live in herds and are non-judgmental beings whose existence is all about survival.

“They listen to a heartbeat from four feet away and will instinctively read someone from the inside out, so there’s no place to hide.

“It’s all about taking a breath and letting someone be in the moment with no label, rank, or expectations. The horses will lead the way, and there’s so much to learn from them.”

The new scheme is targeted at the military and those leaving the services.

Previous research estimates that up to 22 per cent of UK veterans experience a mental disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and alcohol misuse.

One ex-service person who joined the Horserenity Veteran’s Program said: “It was awesome; I enjoyed it and have never experienced such a quiet yet powerful connection like that before.

“Now I’ve felt what it’s like to be connected on the inside, I can take it with me and use that sense of calm in other situations.”