Meet the team

Our fabulous humans

All of our staff are experienced in working with children & young people with additional needs & horses. | First aid trained. | DBS checked. | Fully insured.

Elise

Owner and Director

Elise is the heart behind A Helping Hoof. With a BA (Hons) in Youth Justice and a background in working with children and young people facing complex challenges, she brings both professional insight and personal passion to everything we do.

Elise has dedicated her career to supporting young people who may feel unheard, unseen, or unsure of their place in the world. Her experience spans youth support services, education settings, and alternative provision, always with a trauma-informed and compassionate approach.

Inspired by the healing power of animals and the outdoors, Elise created A Helping Hoof as a space where children can reconnect, grow in confidence, and experience calm through caring for animals. She believes that learning happens best when we feel safe, valued, and understood, and that some of the best teachers have hooves and tails.

Sandra

Yard Manager

I’m proud to have been part of A Helping Hoof since the very beginning. Being involved in the journey from day one and seeing how far we’ve come has been incredibly special.

Horses and animals have always been a big part of my life, they have a quiet wisdom and gentleness that can reach people in ways we often can’t. I have a deep passion for their care and wellbeing, and I truly believe they bring out the best in the young people we support.

As Yard Manager, I’m responsible for making sure our animals are happy, healthy and ready to work their magic each day. From feeding and grooming to maintaining a safe, welcoming environment, every task plays a part in the bigger picture of what we do here.

What I love most is seeing the relationships form between the children and our animals. Watching a young person grow in confidence, learn new skills, and simply smile again, all because of a connection with a pony, a donkey, or even a chicken, is something I’ll never get tired of.

It’s a joy to be part of such a caring, passionate team, and I feel lucky every day to do what I love, in a place that makes a real difference.

Kaylee

SEN Mentor (Equine) - all key stages

I’ve been with A Helping Hoof since the very beginning, and it’s been an incredible journey. Watching the animals bring out the best in children and young people—helping them open up, take on responsibility, and receive unconditional love in return—is truly heartwarming.

As an animal lover who also enjoys working with children, this role is the perfect blend of my passions. There’s something special about the bond between the animals and the kids; both seem to calm and uplift each other. The children especially love the chickens—and honestly, I find them fascinating too!

Seeing the young people grow, reach milestones, and build confidence through their time with us is deeply rewarding. I’m proud to be part of such a dedicated, compassionate team. Anyone joining a session at A Helping Hoof will be in the hands of caring professionals who love what they do.

Georgia

SEN Mentor (Equine) - key stage 3 & 4

Working at ‘A Helping Hoof’ is an extremely rewarding job for me. I take great pride in working with the young people that come to us, and ensure they have a fun yet educational experience whilst with us. The animals have a great impact on the children, and I love to see the progress in what they are learning and in their own personal progression.

Ruby

Equine Support Assistant

I have been a part of A Helping Hoof since 2022. I love animals, I also like building relationship with the children I have sessions with.

I used to be a young person and attend sessions for a couple of years and did work experience and they then offered me a job, so now I get to work with children/young people that sometimes are in the same situation I was in, I am able to understand their worries from their poing of view. By attending A Helping Hoof as a young person,it has made me value the love that horses and animals can give.

I enjoy being with all the horses and grooming them, aswell as getting donkey cuddles.I love to see how exited the children get when they come to A Helping Hoof.

Jess

Equine Support Assistant

I love working at A Helping Hoof because getting young people to trust you in situations that can be difficult leaves me with satisfaction at the end of everyday knowing that young person has completed something that they may really struggle with. A helping hoof is all about making a positive environment that children feel safe to come to and I love that I am apart of that.

What drives me to work with children and young people is the positive reaction that we receive on a daily basis, having positive feedback telling us that a young person has improved in any sort of way makes the job worthwhile.

What I enjoy about working at a helping hoof is that we can make young people feel as though they can do things they never thought they could and that they leave having a positive experience and excited to come back. Being able to combine my 2 passions of working with animals and young people makes working at a helping hoof an enjoyable experience everyday.

Suzanne

SEN Mentor (Equine) - key stage 3 & 4

I’m one of the new members at A Helping Hoof, and I absolutely love being part of such a brilliant team. The work we do here is incredibly rewarding, and I feel so lucky to be involved.

I have previous experience working with the Riding for the Disabled Association, as well as supporting children and young people with SEN. Alongside this, I’ve had horses of my own for many years, which has only deepened my passion for equine work and the positive impact it can have.

Seeing young people grow in confidence, experience the joy of learning something new, and feel safe and comfortable around us and the animals is the most amazing feeling. Being able to play a small part in that journey means the world to me.

Melanie

Primary SEN Tutor - key stage 1 & 2

I have recently joined A Helping Hoof as the tutor for KS1 and KS2. I have been a teacher for over 15 years and during that time I discovered a real passion for working with young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Supporting children who may need a little extra understanding, patience, and encouragement has been the most rewarding part of my career.

I’m passionate about creating a space where young people feel safe, valued and truly cared for. I believe that when children feel secure and understood, they can flourish — not just academically, but in their confidence and sense of self as well. I’m excited to bring together my love for animals, creativity and working with children to create nurturing, engaging experiences that help every young person grow, learn and believe in themselves.

Robyn

SEN Mentor (Equine) - key stage 1 & 2

I am a dedicated Children’s SEN Equine Mentor with a background in primary SEND education, bringing both educational understanding and a horse-centred experience to my work.

My experience within primary SEND education has given me a strong understanding of diverse learning needs, EHCP frameworks, behaviour support strategies, and differentiated approaches. I use this knowledge to support sessions that are developmentally appropriate, accessible, and aligned with each child’s individual goals.

Through groundwork, horse care, and guided interaction, I help children build self-esteem, communication skills, emotional regulation, and resilience. Horses offer honest, non-judgmental feedback, creating powerful opportunities for connection, trust, and personal growth.

Our four legged friends

Strawberry

Head carrot eater

Strawberry is everyones best friend. She loves being stroked and having her hair braided. She is very sweet natured and loves getting lots of attension.

Polly

The Queen of the Yard

Polly doesn’t do riding, she’s far too regal for that! But she adores being pampered and taking elegant walks in hand. Total diva energy (in the best way).

Tetley

The Not-So-Grumpy Old Man

At 27, Tetley’s still got it! The best horse to ride, even if he pretends to be grumpy. Deep down, he’s all charm and cuddles, just don’t tell him we said so.

Angelina

The Ballerina

Elegant and wise, Angelina is the mum of Darcie and our resident honker, yes, she literally honks for attention! You’ll hear her before you see her.

Beauty

The Beauty Queen

Beauty is our newest member of the team. She is very sweet and kind and loves a fuss. Her best friend is Strawberry and she likes to be with her at all times