Mental Health Awareness Week, 18-24 May 2020, sees the launch of Riders Minds, a bespoke, comprehensive, online resource dedicated to supporting and improving the mental health of horse riders, across all levels.
Founded by 5* event rider Matthew Wright and his wife Victoria, Matthew has openly shared his own mental ill health struggles.
Matthew said, “The objective of Riders Minds is to remove the stigma of speaking out by increasing mental health awareness, understanding, and confidence amongst all riders from grassroots through to professionals.
“Having been in a few dark places myself in the past we wanted to give the wider equestrian community somewhere to get help and someone to talk to. By raising the profile of mental health and well-being people will realise they are not on their own and that it is okay not to be okay.”
In addition to equipping individuals with skills for good mental health and managing life’s ups and downs and pressures, Riders Minds also offers a free confidential helpline available 24 hours a day, sponsored by TheraPlate.
Riders Minds has been generously sponsored by TheraPlate, Baileys Horse Feeds, Bates Saddles, The British Grooms Association, The Equestrian Employers Association and Caunton Mannor Stud.
The project is supported by British Equestrian and recognised by British Dressage, British Showjumping, British Eventing, the British Horse Society, the Pony Club and Horsescotland.
For more information to get support go to ridersminds.org.
Don’t forget that as a Haddon Training Learner you also have free access to Grooms Minds, with your complimentary membership to the British Grooms Association.
If you’d like to find out more about becoming a Haddon Training learner then please give us a call on 01672 519977 or send us an email to enquiries@haddontraining.co.uk.