by Rebecca Hannant
An equestrian therapy centre in Leven is fundraising for an accessible portable toilet so more people with disabilities can enjoy the support on offer.
Owned by animal lover and counsellor Kirsty Mills, East Yorkshire Equine Therapy CIC is an accessible farm aimed at providing a range of animal-based therapies and learning for children and adults.
Kirsty said she was inspired to set up the centre after realising that the outdoors and animals provided positive spaces and resources for mental health, rather than traditional room-based therapy.
The centre was initially run as a private company, but Kirsty soon realised that many of the people who needed support were unable to afford it. As demand grew, she felt the work would benefit more people if it could be delivered in a more accessible way.
The centre, which opened two years ago, became a formal community interest company in June 2025. This change allowed it to access funding and partner with initiatives to support a wider range of people, including schools.
Support on offer ranges from a general mood boost to formal counselling. The centre also provides equine-assisted learning, where individuals develop practical skills for everyday life, and equine-assisted therapy, which focuses more deeply on emotional wellbeing. Counsellors and trained trauma-informed specialists are on hand to help.
The centre recruits several volunteers who support activities and assist with equine-assisted therapy. It also works with local schools and runs an ASDAN animal care and gardening course for people who do not thrive in a traditional classroom setting.
Kirsty said: “While training as a counsellor, I realised I didn’t want to work in a room. I’m an outdoor person and I’ve worked with horses my whole life. I wanted to combine those two worlds to help people.
“We help everyone from toddlers to adults. Some children come to overcome a bad experience with horses, while others with ADHD or autism come to help regulate their moods, learn to think before acting, and complete purposeful tasks.
“In a learning session, participants prepare hay, meet the horses, and spend time grooming them as a grounding exercise. We do crafts, painting on the horses, and obstacle courses. We finish with team games to build communication and teamwork.”
However, the centre says its ability to support more people with disabilities is currently limited because it does not have a disabled-accessible portable toilet.
Kirsty added: “We need a disabled-accessible portable toilet. We are reaching more people with disabilities now, but they are limited by our composting toilet, which isn’t accessible. It costs £2,800 to rent a suitable unit for the year, so we are seeking donations and approaching local businesses.
“The disability side of our work has been so rewarding. For people who have been cared for by others their whole lives, being the one responsible for a horse, preparing its food and looking after it gives them a powerful sense of purpose.”
The centre is now looking for donations of any amount, or sponsorship, to help secure the equipment it needs.
To support the centre, visit the East Yorkshire Equine Assisted Therapy Facebook page.