Hey, I'm Gemma
I’m the founder of RISE and the lead facilitator, working alongside our beautiful horses. I’ve been fortunate to share my life with horses for as long as I can remember — they have been constant teachers, companions, and many times, quiet lifelines. I’ve experienced first-hand the powerful way horses can support healing, regulation, and connection, and that belief sits at the heart of everything we do at RISE.
About Me
My work is shaped by lived experience, professional training, decades of experience with horses, and a deep respect for both human and equine wellbeing. After devastating experiences of being bedbound and living with long-term illness, I have worked hard to understand healing and wellbeing, prioritising nervous system, mental health and listening to the body’s wisdom.
At RISE, I weave together trauma-informed somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, and a thorough understanding of neurodivergent perspectives together Equine-Facilitated Learning. Horses remain central to this work — offering honest feedback, calm presence, and a grounding connection that words alone often can’t reach.
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RISE has been created as a space where people can reconnect with themselves, others, and the horses in a way that feels safe, nurturing, and gently explorative. My work is an invitation: to slow down, listen to your body, and rediscover your own resilience and capacity for connection — with horses as steady, kind partners along the way.
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Professional Training & Qualifications
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MIoEE Mentor
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ACCPH Level 4 Equine Assisted Interactions - Athena Herd Registered Practitioner
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Certification in Applied Neuroscience
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Level 2 Safeguarding Children
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TQUK Level 2 Counselling Skills (ongoing)
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British Horse Society Stages 1, 2 & 3
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British Horse Society Teacher Training
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Trauma Toolbox Certification – Trauma Informed Practice