Safeguarding in the equine sector: Coercive control, communities, countryside, challenges, collaboration – completed!
Fittingly for this time of year, on Wednesday 30 September a seed that was planted in March 2026 came to fruition. Back then in CAFRE Enniskillen campus, Causeway Coast & Glens Riding for the Disabled Association’s Chair, Gail Downey, attended The Links Group and British Horse Society’s information session and workshop for the equestrian sector,
‘The Link’ between animal abuse, domestic abuse and child abuse: what should a safe yard look like?
What she heard then inspired her to organise a follow-on event in partnership with The Links Group, hosted in the RDA yard in Coleraine. Originally envisaged as an event to which perhaps 50 people might attend, the demand grew and grew, with eventually over 160 registrants.
That fitted beautifully with the title, and demonstrated the challenges (budget blown, not enough tables and chairs, growing out of the meeting room’s capacity…) and also the power of community and collaboration.
With a huge amount of support from the local council, local businesses, The Executive Office and the belief and determination of the wonderful team at the RDA including the Board and volunteers, the expanded event was able not only go ahead, but to be a resounding success; proving that positive partnership and collaboration can overcome challenges.
Purple rosette name badges (generously provided by Causeway & Glens Riding Club/the Stokesbury family) went down a storm, and it was sobering when their real significance was revealed later in the day. Delegate packs included information from exhibitors, notebooks from Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council and The Executive Office, melts by Urban Ivy Aromas, and copies of Professor Jane Monckton-Smith’s book In Control, made possible by the very generous support of Blue Skies Associates. RDA volunteer Caitlin even made End Violence Against Women and Girls mugs and fridge magnets!
Specialist speakers from the domestic abuse sector, policing, The Executive Office, academia, safeguarding and animal welfare were joined by prominent panellists, in the company of the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, the High Sheriff and the Deputy Mayor. Gail opened the day, welcoming everyone and setting the scene. BHS Ireland’s National Manager Susan Spratt outlined how her original event in Enniskillen in March had been conceived and how it had led to today’s meeting. The Lord-Lieutenant Mrs. Alison Millar, a life-long equestrienne, delivered an impassioned and informed opening address, setting the day up for the presentations.
Dr. Susan Lagdon MBE, from Ulster University, discussed coercive control and their Head Shoulders Knees and Toes campaign, run in partnership with The Executive Office. Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid CEO Kerrie Flood explained why she doesn’t just leave and the realities of domestic abuse in the rural context. Services Manager Gemma Wilson of Causeway and Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid described the local services available, the challenges they face and the collaborations they are engaged in. This part of the day was completed by Dr. Mary Wakeham, University of Bristol researcher and Refuge4Pets CEO discussed her recent work, placing the abuse of animal abuse in the context of coercive control, and provided an update on her current research, The Use and Abuse of Animals in Domestic Abuse-Related Deaths.
The refreshment break provided the first networking opportunity, and guests were able to engage with the many exhibitors from the domestic and sexual abuse, child protection and safeguarding sectors, as well as the animal welfare and charity groups, Guide Dogs NI, the RDA and Vetlife. Huge thanks to the RDA team for managing this so well that many thought we’d hired in professionals! Catering was provided by the local company Moran’s, who brought us a beautiful spread through the day.
Next up was The Links Group trustee Dr. David Martin, talking about Protecting Animals, Protecting People; how non-accidental injury in animals can look differently in the countryside, in horses, farm animals and wildlife, as well as in companion animals. He went on to discuss the link between sexual abuse of animals and sexual abuse of children, and the efforts which can be made in NI and Ireland to address this through the legislative systems. Dave was followed by Superintendent Joanne Gibson of the PSNI’s Operation Gallop, who outlined the great work they are doing to tackle equine crime, and how Joanne has embedded safeguarding as a pillar of this work.
As the first refreshment break had overrun, sessions were rearranged and the yard tours commenced in glorious sunshine. This provided an opportunity for those not familiar with equestrian environments to experience a larger yard layout and to learn more about what’s involved in the day-to-day running. We’d learned from the first break, and RDA team member Maggie quickly switched from leading people around the yard to jumping on the wonderful Max and leading people (or rounding them up!) back from their lovely lunch. Once everyone was seated, Maggie and Max gave a fabulously flexible demonstration of the “head, shoulders, knees and toes” training exercise used to encourage safety in horse and rider, in the context of the Head Shoulders Knees and Toes coercive control safety campaign – certainly one to remember!
Sessions continued with The Executive Office’s Ryan Somerville providing an update on their EVAWG Strategy and ongoing campaigns and how they are there to engage every member of our society. This was followed by a very practical session from safeguarding in sport specialist (amongst her many other hats) Marcella Leonard MBE, who talked through their ©Safe Yard bespoke certification scheme accredited by Safe Sport International.
Next up was White Ribbon’s NI Leigh O’Hara who talked about the White Ribbon Challenge and the importance of bystander action. The Links Group Andrea Lynch summarised the day’s presentations and explained to delegates the significance of the use of rosettes as name badges, and the rationale for the delegate’s route through the building and the yard, encouraging them to think about just how easy it could be for an abusive person to manipulate such an environment.
This set up a series of questions for everyone to consider ahead of the final refreshment (with the wonderful cupcakes made by Shelley, with EVAWG toppers by Lesley) and networking break, and the panel session. For this, we were joined by equine vet and rural/animal welfare advocate Dr. Esther Skelly-Smith FRCVS, human-horse bond and equine assisted services specialist Dr. Rita Seery, and Dr. Jan Melia, author of the Katie Simpson Review. This was a productive and engaging session and no doubt could have gone on longer!
All involved in pulling this event together are delighted that it delivered a memorable, safe, inclusive and useful training session. We had hoped that by immersing the audience in the equestrian world, the messages would be more relevant and easier to recall, and from the feedback to date, it looks like it worked.
Huge thanks to:
- all speakers and panellists who gave their time pro bono,
- all exhibitors for their willingness to share their materials and supporting the delegate packs,
- our sponsors without whom this event would not have been remotely possible: Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council – local change fund grant, further funding as the event grew to support AV, chairs, merchandise, moral support,
- Blue Skies Associates – providing copies of In Control for delegate packs,
- The Bushtown Hotel – for supporting with their incredible hospitality, food, and emergency printing!,
- The Executive Office – merchandise and moral support,
- Causeway Coast & Glens Riding Club/the Stokesbury family – rosette name badges,
- Terrace Row Presbyterian Church – extra tables and chairs,
- Shelley – cupcakes,
- Lesley at Twiggybee – cupcake toppers,
- Caitlin – fridge magnets and mugs
- Urban Ivy Aromas – melts in the delegate packs,
- Moran’s Catering – refreshments and catering,
- Mark at Event AV NI Ltd. For making everything technical work on the day!
- Karolina at Harpers’ Photography for her stunning images,
- All delegates for attending and making this event work,
- The horses, ponies and dogs on the yard for demonstrating the importance of their welfare and the human-animal bond in action,
- And most of all, huge thanks to Gail, the team, the volunteers and Board at CC&G RDA for all their hard work over the weeks, on the day and during the clean up!
