Meet our team
Lisanne Peters
BA (Hons), Dip SEH,
PGDip Psychosynthesis Counselling
Lisanne is Director and founder of RHF. She founded Red Horse in 2010 with Ella Jones & Madeleine Cardani and the goodwill of many others, to pioneer one of the very first sole provider centres for Equine Assisted Therapy in the UK.
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Ten years on Lisanne remains even more passionate about the deeply therapeutic and transformative encounter that happens when horses are invited to support people with the life challenges they face.
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Lisanne’s trainings include PGDip Psychosynthesis Counselling & Psychotherapy, Advanced Trauma Training with Institute Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Equine Assisted Growth & Learning training (EAGALA). Diploma School of Energy Healing, and much learning time with inspiring teachers of EAT from the USA.
Nowadays her role includes creative development of EAT, running groups, teaching and mentoring.
Madeleine Cardani
Dip PRT, BSC (Hons), PGCE.
Madeleine is a qualified psychotherapist, counsellor and trained in equine assisted therapy.
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Now retired, she is currently a trustee and continues to support the Red Horse Foundation in a voluntary capacity in eldership and pastoral care. Occasionally she supports our courses and special events.
Her experience includes private practice psychotherapy, counselling and supervision. She has a background in education including nursery and primary education, as well as special education.
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Amanda Pearson
Diploma Therapeutic Counselling
Amanda is our invaluable Centre manager. She manages the day to day running of the foundation, supporting all clients, staff and horses with the daily routine.
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Her professional background is many years working in health and education organisations and more recently qualifying as a therapeutic counsellor.
Alex Stirzaker
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology,
Masters in Psychodynamic Therapy.
Alex is director and has worked in the NHS as a clinical psychologist for over 30 years. Her main interest is in helping people with complex needs who have often experienced complex trauma and PTSD.
She has been trained in a number of psychological therapies including Eye Movement desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Mentalisation.
Over the years she has been working alongside horses having undertaken EAGALA training to offer an additional way to enable people to learn more about their difficulties often when traditional approaches get stuck.
Caterina Baskerville
MA Psychotherapy
Caterina has a Masters in Humanistic and Integrative counselling.
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Prior to her careers as a psychotherapist, she was a professional horsewoman, training horses and teaching riding for many years, specialising in show-jumping.
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Caterina finds the partnership and non-verbal communication that she learnt in her time as horsewoman provides valuable tools for her equine assisted therapy practice at Red Horse.
Emma Jan
PG Cert Counselling Studies, Dip (HE) in Counselling, BA (Hons), Equine Facilitated Therapy for Mental Health Professionals
Emma qualified as a Counsellor in 2007, and her experience spans years of working therapeutically with adults, children, young people and families. She has worked as a University Staff Counsellor, College and Secondary School Counsellor, as well as for a Cancer Support Charity, a Child Bereavement Charity, with children and young people in crisis, a Hospice, and now has her own private counselling practice.
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Emma has a passion for nature, and animals, and the healing power of horses support her clients on their journey. Horses have the profound ability to connect with us in a deep and meaningful way. Together, with horse and therapist, it is a genuine, compassionate, intuitive, holistic way of working. Emma is honoured to be part of the herd!
Emma Matsambanye
BA (hons), Dip counselling, Dip equine facilitated psychotherapy
Emma has been working as an equine assisted therapist since 2012. She has a diploma in Biographical Counselling and is ‘LEAP’ equine assisted psychotherapy trained.
She worked as a counsellor for a domestic violence and abuse support service for many years and is passionate about offering therapy to people who have experienced abuse and trauma in their lives.
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She has also worked in education, mainly with children and young people with emotional and behavioural challenges and has been a foster carer.
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Emma believes that horses offer a lot of opportunity for healing, especially to those whose adverse experiences are beyond verbal expression.
Jo Wood
BSc (Hons), GTP in teaching, Diploma in Equine Facilitated Learning & Development, Mental Health First Aid.
Jo is passionate about giving opportunities to people to connect with horses in support of their mental health or life challenges. She offers sessions in Equine Assisted Learning at Red Horse, working mostly with young people and children. She recognises the incredible lessons that horses can give us, including awareness of being in the present and the benefits of non-verbal communication.
Alongside her therapeutic work at Red Horse, Jo also is an experienced primary school teacher with over 20 years in the classroom. She understands about the importance of pastoral care of children within the classroom and strives to ensure that the wellbeing of the children in her care is her priority.
As a teacher, equine coach and parent, Jo applies the insight, empathy and knowledge to the work with the incredible animals at Red Horse.
Linny Gray
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Linny offers therapeutic horsemanship and riding. She has a background in working with young people in the outdoors and is a trained Forest School leader.
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She is currently completing her counselling training and is a graduate of our internal equine assisted therapy training programme.
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Linny loves the opportunity that equine assisted therapy provides for healing and how it brings together her love of nature and passion for horses!
The Yard Team
Anna, Nora, Linny and Becky
Sarah J, Anna, Tali, Nell, Ra, Sophia & Emily are the very important people who keep our herd fit and healthy and ready to see you.
They give our horses lots of love and attention and make sure the yard is neat and tidy too. They try to stay out of the way when clients visit us but you can be sure they will be busy behind the scenes.
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This photo was taken while observing social distancing!