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British RoyalsKing Charles III

A new patronage for Camilla as she promotes mental health through HorseBack UK

The Duchess of Cornwall has combined her passion for horses and mental health by taking on a new patronage with charity HorseBack UK.

The organisation, which provides mental health support through horsemanship, is known for its services to veterans and recently has been working in collaboration with The Prince’s Trust to create a new Youth Development Programme to offer support within local communities.

“At a time when we are seeing a crucial increase in awareness for mental health concerns in our society, HorseBack UK is delighted to announce Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, as the Patron of the charity,” HorseBack UK said. “The duchess shares a passion for horses, is a keen rider, and understands the incredible emotional impact horses have on human recovery.”

The charity, which “aims to inspire recovery, regain self-esteem and promote positive change in an individual,” has been running its military courses since 2009 to empower serving and former military personnel suffering from life-changing physical and/or mental injuries.

Photo: HorseBack UK

Using horsemanship and outdoor activities, HorseBack UK delivers personal development programmes that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies and life skills to build lasting resilience and leave with an official SQA qualification in Personal Development Through Horsemanship.

Following the success of its military programmes, HorseBack UK expanded to provide support to more areas and has run a Schools Development Programme for the past six years. With an emphasis on participation and personal development, teenagers participate in the same SQA Level 4 Certificate in Personal Development Through Horsemanship over a 15-day programme.

HorseBack also offers a wider community programme for adults and corporate leadership/team-building courses.

Co-founder Emma Hutchison said “We are incredibly grateful to the Duchess of Cornwall for accepting the invitation to become our Patron. As a keen equestrian herself, HRH understands how horses can help have a positive impact on our well-being and recovery.”

About author

Kristin was Chief Reporter for Royal Central until 2022 and has been following the British royal family for more than 30 years. Kristin has appeared in UK and U.S. media outlets discussing the British royals including BBC Breakfast, BBC World News, Sky News, the Associated Press, TIME, The Washington Post, and many others.