How my work in mental health and love of horses led inevitably to Park Lane Stables
As a child/teenager I had riding lessons, we had a rescue pony for a while and then I rode various horses when I had the opportunity.
Some years later I started riding regularly for someone who had point to pointers, and then rode out at a racing yard. I became involved with working horses through my late good friend Richard Branscombe. About this time, I started to get interested in what is often referred to as ‘natural horsemanship’, after attending a demo by Monty Roberts, and began training in Intelligent Horsemanship.
All of this varied experience of horses – from riding racehorses at exercise, to logging with heavy horses, to starting or re-starting horses – was developing a deeper appreciation of the connection between horse and human and the working of the horse's mind. It continues to fascinate me, and I’m still learning!
My work outside of horses was in mental health, particularly working with people with drug and alcohol issues. Though my core training was as a psychiatric nurse it included work in management, academia and project development. I started combining these two worlds through equine assisted therapies.
My first contact with Park Lane was when I started training a horse for Nat at the yard I was then at. I found at Park Lane there was a shared interest in working with horses in a manner that helps both horses and people, always prioritising their welfare equally. Park Lane is all about acceptance, and this ethos supports horses and humans connecting in a mutually supportive environment. We see the evidence of what this can achieve every time a magical breakthrough moment happens between horse and participant.
As I’m now an RDA Carriage Driving Coach, you may have seen me driving our specially adapted carriage with my partner Sam out in front. But if you visit us, you’re just as likely to see me riding out with some of our participants, or just helping out with yard duties.
Natalie says: “We’re so lucky to have David on the team. He’s a volunteer who generously gives us his time and will happily turn his hand to anything that needs doing. Sometimes I have to stop him as it doesn’t seem fair when he already does so much. His background as a psychiatric nurse gives him special insight into the needs of our RDA participants, he can understand their needs as we may not, and it really enhances our ability to help. And of course he’s brilliant with the horses. Thank you, David, for all that you do.”
