About Us

Through communication with horses, looking after them and on the ground activities, we empower children and young people to experience positive changes for themselves and the community.

Meet the Team

Kate Carter

I’m Kate – I have been passionately involved with horses since the age of five and have worked professionally in the equestrian industry for 45 years.

I have managed and run international yards, overseen breeding programs, and prioritises the welfare of horses above all else. I am also a dedicated mother of three boys and deeply committed to mental health advocacy and children’s well-being.

I strongly believe in the powerful connection between working with horses and supporting children’s development, emphasising the positive impact animals can have on emotional growth and resilience. I always strive to help others find positivity in their daily lives and am devoted to creating supportive environments where both people and animals can thrive.

Kate Hammond

I’m Kate – I moved back to Cheltenham in 2023 after about 30 years living in London and most recently, Warwickshire. I’m a Paediatric Nurse and was looking for a change in career. I’ve had horses on and off since I was a teenager, so when I saw an advert for volunteers for H4W, I jumped at the chance to go and meet the team.

I loved it from the very start, and after a few weeks of training they very kindly they offered me a job; since November 2023 I’ve been a part of our wonderful team. I still work a few shifts a month as a nurse; I help out looking after the horses when needed and I have my own horse, Blaze, who I now keep in a retirement livery yard- he’s loving life with his little herd.

Zara Rhodes

I’m Zara. I recently graduated from Hartpury University with a degree in Equine Sports Coaching. Growing up around animals and volunteering at a charity that provided riding opportunities for the disabled cemented my passions in life – horses and helping those in need. I absolutely love the challenge of working here and the satisfaction that comes with spreading a little joy. My other passions are travelling, eating out and antiques.

Victoria Sollitt

I’m Vicki, and my lifelong passion for horses has shaped me in ways that words can barely capture. From dressage to eventing, and more recently racing, I’ve immersed myself in various equestrian disciplines. Throughout my 24-year career in the Royal Navy, horses were my constant anchor, offering me grounding and stability when life was at its most uncertain and turbulent.

As a proud mother of two boys and a passionate advocate for mental health and children’s well-being, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of animals, especially horses, in fostering emotional growth, resilience, and positive development.

Our Trustees

Steve Wallbank

Recently retired from a career in Industry, Steve has held senior commercial, marketing and management roles in the UK and Europe for companies including Alcan Aluminium, Network Rail, DB Schenker and Wincanton Logistics. A keen golfer, Steve also supports his wife Fiona who competes their 5 horses in dressage events.

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Stuart Carter

A former jockey, Stuart has a thorough understanding of horses and their benefits, both physical and mental. He has now been running equine – related businesses for many years. ‘Horses for Wellbeing’ brings together Stuart’s business expertise and passion for helping others through interaction with horses. Stuart also manages the property, Windrush, where the centre will be based.

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Jane Chablani

Jane Chablani is an award-winning producer and director of documentary films. Originally from Canada, she has lived in London for the past 20 years working on documentary films on wide-ranging subjects such as travelling through the Sahar desert with Michael Palin to a ground-breaking legal case in art restitution. She has made films for the BBC, Discovery Channel, Channel 4 and National Geographic. She has also served as a Trustee for Future Brilliance, an NGO promoting peace and stability in conflict zones such as Afghanistan. Future Brilliance focuses on job creation, enterprise development and building bilateral ties between developing countries to promote trade and investment.

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