A WEST Dorset charity founder was presented with her MBE at Windsor Castle for her innovative work to improve people's mental health.

Harriet Laurie, from Askerswell, was awarded the honour for her work in pairing horses with people to help improve their mental wellbeing.

Harriet set up TheHorseCourse in 2010, and it has since helped thousands of people to improve their mental health and have better life chances.

Harriet's original vision for the charity involved her horses Flower and Stormy, a group of young offenders on Portland and a lot of optimism about the benefits that interacting with horses could have on troubled people.

Previously based in west Dorset, the charity is now in Upwey, Weymouth.

Harriet was awarded the MBE in the King's New Year Honours and went to collect it in a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Watched on by two of her sons Dillon and Tad, Harriet was presented the honour by Princess Anne.

Following the ceremony, Harriet said: “It was a great day out with two of my three proud sons. I met some amazing people at Windsor Castle as we awaited our turn to be presented with medals.

“As a horsewoman and President of Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), Princess Anne is very aware of the physical and emotional benefits of equine-assisted services.

"We talked about the very tangible mental health benefits that TheHorseCourse has demonstrated and how important it is for people to understand that horses aren’t just about riding.”

“Personally I think it is distressing that the award is still named after the Empire, but I was delighted to accept the MBE on behalf of the horses, staff and volunteers in Weymouth and all the other centres around the country working so hard to give people a chance to live a fulfilling and happy life,” she added.

The charity, which has been championed by actor Martin Clunes, is now based in Weymouth and helps more than 700 people with complex challenges and needs each year.

There are also 10 other hubs across the country delivering the same service with training and support from the Weymouth centre.

Harriet went on to say that mental health is more talked about now and is no longer considered what she called ‘a shameful secret’.

She said: “There have been advances in our understanding and treatment of all kinds of mental health struggles and greater access to therapy is crucial. But talking therapies don’t work for everyone – and that’s where TheHorseCourse and other equine-assisted services work so well to fill the gap."

The horses at the hubs are trained to pay attention to people’s body language so when Harriet and others coach participants to be calm, the horses will give them feedback with how they behave when they get it right, according to Harriet.

“In that way the participants see there is a direct link between how they behave, and even think, with what the horse does and they learn to regulate themselves and that’s a very powerful and empowering lesson,” she said.

TheHorseCourse relies on grants and donations to keep going as the income from Dorset Council, NHS and Schools is only partial.

If you would like to donate to the charity, visit: https://www.paypal.com/GB/fundraiser/charity/2444307, https://www.facebook.com/TheHorseCourse, or https://www.justgiving.com/thehorsecourse.