Dreamisi is a finalist in a national community impact award

A horse in a coat stands by a stables — Dreamisi, the equine charity finalist

A former Barnet racehorse, Dreamisi, has been recognised for making a significant impact on people’s lives within the Barnet and Greater London community by providing equine assisted therapy to vulnerable young people

Strength and Learning Through Horses’ (SLTH) Matt Bannon, and its resident therapy horse, Dreamisi, have been shortlisted for the prestigious Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Awards.

Recognised for their significant contribution to the Barnet and Greater London community, they have been selected as finalists for the inaugural Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust RoR Community Impact Award.

Strength and Learning Through Horses offer life changing services to young people struggling with mental health issues, behavioural problems and learning difficulties. Its services include employability skills programmes, graduate programmes and alternative therapeutic education, all with the assistance of its resident therapy horses.

Matt Bannon, Equine Specialist and Programme Lead, has built an inseparable and inspiring relationship with Dreamisi (commonly known as Isi) that has helped changed the lives of hundreds of vulnerable young people. Despite not being suited to horse racing following a 12-race career between 2013-2015, 15-year-old Dreamisi has since gone on to demonstrate the remarkable versatility of a thoroughbred when adapting to the discipline of equine assisted therapy.

The inaugural Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust Community Impact Award has been introduced by RoR, British Horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses, to recognise any individual, former racehorse partnership or an organisation that can show how using a former racehorse has made a significant impact on the quality of people’s lives and helped to make a difference in their community.

Equine assisted therapy programmes are growing in popularity due to the innate characteristics of the thoroughbred, and Dreamisi has made a lasting and inspiring impact on many lives across Greater London in 2023. Children identify with Dreamisi’s anxious behaviour and use these observations to reflect on their own behaviour. Over the summer he also played a key role in a South London prison project to help prisoners engage positively with a horse skills and mental health awareness programme.

On one particular SLTH course last year, Matt and Dreamisi were working with a teenager who was non-verbal due to anxiety. After spending time with the horse and helping look after him around the arena, the young person started to speak to Dreamisi and then built a new confidence to emotionally express themselves to others. As a result of the equine assisted therapy, the young person was able to uncover a new level of confidence and self-expression at a crucial time in their life and education.

Matt Bannon, Strength and Learning Through Horses, said: “Equine assisted therapy has given Dreamisi a new lease of life after his racing career, and in return, he has given so many vulnerable young people a new lease of life for themselves. He has a unique personality that is distinctly relatable to those that come through the doors here at SLTH. We’re immensely proud of the difference he makes to so many lives.”

Rosie Bensley, Joint CEO and Education Programme Director, SLTH, said: “Dreamisi has been an incredible therapy horse, helping over 1,000 young Londoners to change their lives for the better. Matt’s bond with Isi and his gentle,

consistent training has helped him navigate the work as a therapy horse, and it’s been a joy to witness. We are so proud of them both and they would be incredibly deserving winners.”

Dr Jemma Hockley, Joint CEO and Therapy Programme Director, SLTH, said: “His size and stature are impressive but it’s his ability to show his vulnerability along with this that models to our young people how to share their vulnerability and ask for help.”

Over two hundred nominations were submitted from across the racing and equestrian worlds, before a shortlist of 12 horses were then narrowed down to three finalists by an independent RoR judging panel. Matt Bannon and Dreamisi are up against New Beginnings and Goldream from Yorkshire, and Godolphin and Papineau from Suffolk.

David Catlow, RoR Managing Director, said: “The extraordinary stories of each of our finalists highlight not only the adaptability of former racehorses to a wide range of second careers, but also the remarkable commitment to the horses’ well-being of so many involved in aftercare. The RoR Awards are an important opportunity to recognise these inspirational people and thoroughbreds.”

Founded in 2000, RoR’s thriving community provides thoroughbred owners with access to education, advice, and an established series of events to support the ongoing healthy, happy lives of former racehorses.

The public vote is now open and closes at 5pm on Friday 19th January. To review all the finalists’ stories and participate in the voting process, visit www.ror-events.org.uk.

The winner will be announced at the RoR Awards evening on Wednesday 31st January.

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