Meet the Team
Sue (She/Her)
Main responsibilities: Managing Director; Founder; CEO
Areas of interest/skills: Accredited counsellor; Trained Arts Therapist; Extensive experience working with children; Interest in Neuroscience; Celebrating Individuality and Neurodiversity; Animal Psychology
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: All of them! But enjoys cuddles with the ferrets- Malfoy and Loki
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos? Our core values are based on radical acceptance of each child as they are and celebrating their uniqueness. Providing safety in the environment and in relationships, and building connection to allow growth and learning.
Steph (She/Her)
Main responsibilities: Senior Equine-Enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; Learner Records; Horse Care and Management; Policy Writing and Review; Senior Mental Health Lead; Compliance Support
Areas of interest/skills: BA English; MA Museum Studies; MSc Psychology in Education, interest in animal and people relationships; how brains work and develop socially; psychology of learning; cultivation of compassion and understanding in communities
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: Horses and Donkeys
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos? I believe that at Rainbow Horses we have built a caring community through extending the same radical acceptance and empathy to everyone, while sharing an understanding that we all approach our work with a powerful level of integrity.
Kayleigh (She/Her/They/Them)
Main responsibilities: Equine-Enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; First Aider and Medical Administration Lead
Areas of interest/skills: BSc (Hons) Zoo Biology; HERD Affiliated Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner; interest in trauma psychology; exploring new ways animals and children can work together
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: The rats
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos? At Rainbow Horses, everyone is free to be their authentic selves - learners, staff and animals. This allows everyone to work in partnership to develop ourselves and a sense of empowerment.
Emma (She/Her/They/Them)
Main responsibilities: Equine-Enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; ADHD Coach; Website design; Uniform ordering; Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL); Anti-Bullying Lead.
Areas of interest/skills: BMus in Music; MA in Music with Music Psychology; trainee ADHD Coach; experience of working closely with young people who have complex needs; interest in music and arts based therapies; speech and language therapy; music psychology; mutually beneficial relationships between horses and humans; experience living as an ADHD person
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: Little Pete
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos? The Rainbow Horses environement allows our learners the freedom to explore who they are within a safe space. Kindness and respect for all is at the centre of everything we do and is a vital part of our ethos.
Charlie (She/Her)
Main responsibilities: Equine-Enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; Parent Perspective and Support
Areas of interest/skills: Horse and small animal care, understanding more about the learners; supportive services available to parents; providing specific support to parents as a parent of an ex-Rainbow Horses learner
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: Ruben
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos? One of our most central values here at Rainbow Horses is compassion; especailly towards our learners, their families, our animal partners and each other. Through this we create an environment of freedom which supports our young people to explore their uniqueness.
Lewis (He/Him)
Main responsibilities: Equine-Enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; Fire Marshall; Hay Deliveries; Health and Safety Lead
Areas of interest: Experience of working at American summer camps on the horseback program; 2 years experience as a support worker in children's homes; interest in forming strong relationships with all of our young people; encouraging positive autistic identies; being a role model for other autistic people; experience living as an Autistic person
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: Max
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos? The word Acceptance speaks to me at rainbow horses. I believe at our centres heart there is strength in our value and commitment to accept what makes each young person an individual.
Fostering a personalized experience to meet their needs, help people in our care feel listened to as they explore learning about what helps them feel safe and thrive.
Laina (She/Her)
Main responsibilities: Equine-Enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; Horse care and management
Areas of interest/skills: Level 2 diploma in horse care, Advanced level 2 apprenticeship in horse care, Access to HE in animal science and currently doing an undergraduate degree in equine science, management and training. An interest in psychology and exploring ways children and animals work together especially horses.
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: Dinkie
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos?Rainbow horses is a place to be yourself and express yourself however you like, there is no judgement only understanding and acceptance.
Megan (She/Her)
Main responsibilities: Senior Equine-Enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; Saturday Session Facilitator; Staff, Learners and Session Support
Areas of interest/skills: BA (Hons) Psychology & Special Educational Needs and Inclusion. HERD Equine facilitated learning practitioner. Interests in nurturing relationships between humans and animals.
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: I love all the animals here at Rainbow Horses but the donkeys have a very special place in my heart.
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos?
To me, Rainbow Horses is our young people. We strive to create a safe environment which nurtures our young people through compassion, empathy and complete acceptance. Through the authenticity of the team and our young people strong relationships are built to support growth and learning.
Sarah (She/Her)
Main responsibilities: Equine-enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; Trauma Response Practitioner; Saturday Session Facilitator
Areas of interest/skills: BA (Hons) Psychology and Educational Development; studying MSc Integrative Psychotherapy; interest in psychology of attachment, trauma response and different cultures; passionate about yoga, meditation and mindfulness.
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: The Ferrets
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos? We provide a compassionate approach to empowering people and animals, through complete acceptance of individuality.
Gabby (She/Her)
Main responsibilities: Senior Equine-Enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; Development Co-ordinaator
Areas of interest/skills: Early years specialist teacher with a BA Hons in Early Years & Special and inclusive education; trained in Speech and language, therapeutic Arts and Equine assisted learning; working toward a MA in Psychotherapy to become a qualified therapist.
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: Hazel as well as all Horses, donkeys and cats
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos?
Rainbow Horses provides a safe environment which allows learners to make their own path. We allow opportunities for deep and meaningful conversations around feelings, emotions and relationships through our animals and play. Rainbow horse gives full acceptance to all of our children, young people and families.
Rhiann (She/Her)
Main responsibilities: Equine-enabled Therapeutic Learning Facilitator; Equine Health Care
Areas of interest/skills: BSc (Hons) Equine behaviour, health and welfare; interested in the human animal relationship; interested in horse behaviour and training; have been around a variety of animals for many years.
Favourite animal at Rainbow Horses: The horses and donkeys
How would you summarise the Rainbow Horses Ethos? At Rainbow Horses we use a child centred approach to allow our children the freedom to feel unique. Our compassion towards the children, animals and staff creates a safe and secure environment for everyone.