Nature-based Interventions and Equine Therapy for Uniform Public Services (NIETUPS)

In the first week of December 2025, eight UK police officers/staff participated in a three-day equine-assisted mental resilience course. The participants were all managing incredibly challenging circumstances as a result of abuse, trauma, illness or assault that has affected their ability to work.

The course was held at Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Equestrian Centre and consisted of ground-based interactions with several horses that allowed participants to practice self-regulation of their emotional states. The Warrior Equine instructors introduced the horses as 'big furry mirrors of ourselves', reflecting their levels of nervousness, hyper-vigilance or calmness.

All eight participants consented to participate in the evaluation study of the course, measuring its longitudinal impact on their lives. They completed journal entries during their time on the course, and will be invited to contribute to the follow-up element of the study after three and six months have elapsed.

For military spouses, life is often defined by the 'admin' of existence. It is a period of unwavering commitment from the family sometimes with little stability in return: solo parenting during deployments, career sacrifices for new postings, and the invisible weight of the 'mental load'.

For many, this leads to a gradual erosion of self. You become a 'wife of', a 'mother to', a 'dependant'. What happens when you strip away WiFi, domestic commitments, and a partner’s rank, and place 24 women in canoes in the Swedish wilderness?

A recent study followed a cohort of military spouses, members of Forces Wives Challenge CIC, on a six-day wilderness canoe expedition. By analysing their journals written daily on the river and comparing them with reflections six months later asking about the impact on their lives, researchers uncovered a journey: a reconstruction of ‘self’.

The participants faced six days and five nights of exposure to the elements. They slept in bivvy bags, tents or hammocks, navigated rapids, and managed the tasks of fire-lighting and shelter-building.

Participants wrote of physical exhaustion, the difficulties of steering a canoe, the occasional irritation of living in close quarters with strangers, and cold nights. There was snoring, friction over firewood, and the anxiety of “letting the team down”, but six months later, a narrative of strength and confidence was apparent. The struggle was no longer a negative – it was fuel for a new identity.

The study identified three distinct psychological shifts that occurred between the first day on the river and the six-month follow-up.

Identity: from a 'dismantled' identity to 'phoenix rising'

In the early days of the trip, the journals were heavy with guilt. Participants felt selfish for being there. They struggled to switch off 'administrator' mode, worried about school runs and partners' schedules back home. They described feeling like an “imposter” or “failure” if they couldn’t light a fire or steer a boat.

Over time, this was replaced by relaxation and a realisation that self-care is a necessity. The wilderness acted as a 'circuit-breaker' and a sense of self was reclaimed.

One participant described the experience as a 'catalyst', stating “I am like a phoenix rising from the ashes… it is 100% OK to be me.” Another noted that she had finally put down the “mental load”, realising she didn’t need to carry it alone.

Belonging: from 'strangers' to 'the tribe'

The journals on the river told a complex story. The wilderness was not immune to friction among the fun. Tension bubbled, there were cliques, there was judgement about who was pulling their weight.

However, six months later, challenges and shared hardship, as well as laughter, were interpreted as contributors to a strong bond. The participants no longer saw differences: they saw a 'tribe'. As one spouse reflected: “we arrived as strangers, but quickly formed a bond rooted in shared experience… it’s a space where you’re not afraid to express your vulnerabilities”.

Resilience: from 'fear of failure' to 'I can do hard things'

Early journal entries were filled with anxiety – “I spent most of the day feeling like I was letting myself down” – however, the memory of overcoming challenges became an anchor for positivity. If participants could navigate a rapid, catch a fish, or sleep alone in a hammock, they could handle a job interview, a difficult move, or a partner’s absence. The narrative shifted from 'I was scared' to 'I can do hard things'.

One participant summed it up: “the confidence that I gained from simply doing it is by far my biggest takeaway. Feel the fear and do it anyway.”

In April 2025, Dr Chris Kay secured internal funding through the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services (CEEUPS) to develop a series of longitudinal studies into the impact of five nature-based, supportive courses.

In collaboration with external partners Warrior Equine and Sweden Outdoors Coaching, these courses were provided for female military spouses, UK military personnel, and police officers and staff. The experiences consisted of Nordic skiing, expedition canoeing, and an equine-assisted mental resilience course.

Participants were asked to contribute journal entries around the topics of belonging, identity and psychological safety, during and in the months following the courses.

This symposium, which took place in Chelmsford on 9 October 2024, was for anyone researching, delivering or potentially benefitting from participation in nature-based and equine therapeutic activities that help people adjust to life-changing circumstances. It brought together expert practitioners and researchers in the field of the recovery support from the United Kingdom and the United States.

The day included symposium presentations, as well as an interactive equine demonstration in partnership with the UK Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at ARU's Writtle Equine Training and Development Centre.

Warrior Equine – an organisation that works with Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and emergency service workers – said:

Sessions included:

• Symposium overview from Prof Matt Fossey (ARU Professor of Public Services Research; Director, Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research (VFI); Co-Director, Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services (CEEUPS)
• Introduction to the needs of recovering UK and US uniform public service personnel from Dr Chris Kay, Dr Matt Carpenter (Vice President of New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program (NYLEAP)) and Jim Banish (Founder of NYLEAP, USLEAP and Valor Station)
• Adventurous activities and recovery support talk from Pete Smith (Warrant Officer Class 2, Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor, UK Ministry of Defence, Adventurous Training and military recovery) and Dr Ailsa Snaith (Expedition canoeing with Forces Wives Challenge Charity)
• Lived Experience from within Uniform Public Services talk from Clifford O'Farrell (UK Household Cavalry veteran) and Denny Wright (Rochester New York Police Department)
• Equine assisted programmes talk from Mary Jo Beckman (CDR, US Navy, Ret; PATH Intl Master Therapeutic Riding Instructor), Anita Shkedi (Equine Assisted Activities & Therapy) and Cpt Karl Scholes (Riding Master of the UK Household Cavalry Regiment)
• Equine assisted programme interactive demonstration from expert practitioners from ARU, EquuStrong, the Household Cavalry, and local and US veterans.

Videos and slides from presentations are available on request – email [email protected]

Exploring identity, belonging and psychological safety through outdoor adventures

The FWC project is an ongoing pilot study investigating the experiences of military wives as they participate in multi-day outdoor adventures. Recognising the heightened mental health vulnerabilities within the military spouse community, this research explores identity, belonging and psychological safety through immersive wilderness experiences.

The research is ongoing and has been conducted as a collaboration between ARU and Forces Wives Challenge, a community-driven organisation with over 1,700 members which co-ordinates outdoor challenges across the UK and internationally, creating opportunities for military wives to connect, support one another, and push themselves out of their comfort zone, undertaking activities such as mountain walks (Yorkshire Three Peaks), scrambling in North Wales, and open canoe and Nordic ski journeys in Sweden.

Military life presents unique challenges for spouses, including protracted separations, frequent house moves, disruption to social networks and support and career instability, all of which can have a profound impact on wellbeing (Padden and Posey, 2013). These stressors may contribute to the reported higher rates of depression, sense of isolation and aberrant coping mechanisms among military spouses compared with the general population (Gribble et al., 2019).

This study aims to explore the experiences of military wives on outdoor adventures outside of the military setting, and understand the long-term impact of participation.

The first part of the research was conducted in September 2024 on a six-day wilderness open canoe journey in Sweden (run by Sweden Outdoors Coaching), where 23 military spouses participated in anonymised journaling. Participants documented their thoughts and experiences throughout the trip, which will allow researchers to identify recurring themes.

The second part of the research will be conducted in March 2025 on a six-day Nordic ski journey in Sweden (also run by Sweden Outdoors Coaching). The study will conduct follow-up after six months.

Why is this research important?

This study fills a gap in research on the experiences of military spouses in non-military settings. While studies have examined the psychological impact of military life, little research has explored how shared outdoor challenges might impact wellbeing, support networks and resilience.

By focusing on identity, belonging and psychological safety, it is hoped that the findings will inform ongoing development of the outdoor challenges to optimise the experiences of the military wives and the wider impact on the military community.

It is also hoped the findings could help shape military family support programmes, highlighting the value of nature-based intervention in reducing isolation and promoting positive outcomes. By shedding light on the impact of shared outdoor adventures, this study is a step toward enhancing the wellbeing of all those who support and serve our Armed Forces.

The long-term goal of this research is to build an evidence base that can inform policy, improve support service and ensure military families receive the resources they need to thrive. We also aim to expand studies to service personnel and uniformed public services.