Cherene Robertson’s therapy horses might be small – but their impact is mighty
A hand reaches out and touches a soft, warm face. At once, the atmosphere changes. The room seems brighter and there’s a feeling of joy in the air.
It’s all thanks to a sprinkle of magic delivered by a very special team of bliss bringers, known as the Hoof Gang.
Luna, Bubbles, Eeyore and co are used to bringing comfort and support to people in their hour of need. But they are no ordinary therapy workers.
They are part of Lunar Eclipse, a non-profit organisation that’s dedicated to helping people thrive by connecting with horses.
It’s the brainchild of Cherene Robertson from Stirling who started Lunar Eclipse after seeing the uplifting effect these gentle animals had on those around them.
Cherene, 53, has been horse-mad her whole life.
She says, ‘For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with horses. Mum and Dad got me riding lessons aged five, and I was lucky enough to have my own ponies.’
But it wasn’t until years later that she turned her passion into her purpose.
Six years ago, she was attacked at work which forced her to give up her job. At the same time her daughter was diagnosed with a chronic health condition.
‘I was feeling lost,’ she says, now. ‘Then a friend who worked for Riding for the Disabled suggested I retrain as an Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) practitioner, a professional who uses horses to help others develop personal skills.’
Mulling it over, Cherene then spotted an advert online for a black and white gypsy cob called Luna, and she realised she’d found her calling.
She says, ‘I told my husband Moray and he bought Luna for me as a present for our silver anniversary. It seemed extravagant, but he said that he wanted me to be happy again, to get a chance to explore this new avenue
and to show what I was capable of.’
As soon as Luna arrived, Cherene knew she’d made the right decision.
She began her EFL training and started practising on friends and their children.
‘From the start you could see the effect Luna had on people,’ says Cherene. ‘I added an “r” to her name and Lunar Eclipse EFL Therapy Horses was born.’
Right away, Cherene wanted the horses to be accessible to all.
'He wanted me to be happy'
She says, ‘There were so many people I wanted to reach – like those in hospices and care homes.’
And she quickly realised she couldn’t do that with a full-sized horse.
She’d soon recruited miniature horse Bubbles.
Shetland ponies Eeyore and Smarties, plus more miniature horses, Apollo, Daisy, Robyn, Teddy and Marina, came hot on their hooves.
‘The horses might have been small,’ Cherene says, ‘but the effect they had was enormous.’
One of their first successes was with a boy called Conor.
‘We visited his school,’ says Cherene. ‘At the time he had really limited speech, but that night he went home and said, “Horses! Horses!’’ It was the first time he’d told his parents anything about his day at school, so his Mum got in touch.’
Lunar Eclipse has now been working with Conor, eight, for two years and Cherene says the change in him is incredible.
‘His communication skills have massively improved,’ she explains. ‘He knows all the horses’ names and Bubbles and Luna are his absolute heroes. Luna gives him swan cuddles, where she tucks her head and neck round him!’
Another child helped by the hoof gang is Ellie who was struggling at school until her new friends helped her gain confidence.
But it’s not just kids feeling the equine love.
‘We’ve spent time with the Chelsea Pensioners and visited countless care homes,’ says Cherene. ‘Just the smell of the horses can bring back happy memories, even for those suffering with dementia.
‘One man recalled as a boy riding the butcher’s cart, pulled by a horse named Ginger. Another remembered getting a clip round the ear as a child for stopping on the way back from the corner shop, to share their apple with a horse in a field!’
One particularly special service is providing end-of-life support.
Cherene says, ‘Apollo has a habit of seeking out the person who really needs him. We were in the foyer of a care home one day when he pulled me towards a certain room.
‘A staff member gave us permission to go in, so I introduced myself and Apollo to the man in the bed, who agreed we could visit.
‘With that, Apollo snuggled right into the crook of the man’s neck and just breathed on him. The man said he’d never felt so at ease and asked if we’d come again, which we did.’
The man, named Stuart, was already receiving palliative care, and it wasn’t long before the home called Cherene to say that he didn’t have long left.
‘They asked if I’d bring Apollo to be with him at the end,’ she recalls. ‘Sadly, although I rushed straight there, we didn’t make it in time. But we paid our last respects, Apollo resting his chin on Stuart’s chest.’
They were then given the great honour of accompanying Stuart on his last journey into the crematorium.
‘When the staff at the
home talked about how
much Apollo had meant to Stuart at the end, I could hardly hold it together,’ says Cherene.
Now she’s hoping to reach yet more people, and the Hoof Gang is expanding. Another Shetland, Molly Moo, has joined the crew and
with Henry, a full-sized Arabian cross, that takes the gang to 11.
‘I want even more people to experience the incredible healing potential of these animals,’ says Cherene. ‘Horses are such spirit animals. They pull you through anything. Whatever you’re going through, just being beside one makes you feel better.’
• To find out more about Cherene and Lunar Eclipse visit gofund.me and search ‘Support Lunar Eclipse Scotland's Healing Therapy Horses’.