Straight From The Horse's Mouth: Richard Moore MBE

Hello and welcome to the 25th Straight from the Horse's Mouth podcast on Horse and Field!

There are so many people who make an impact on our horsey world, in so many different ways… While most of my conversations to date have been with people whose names might already be familiar to those in local equestrian circles, my latest chat was with someone who might not currently be familiar to many, but hopefully will become better known as time goes on!

Richard Moore MBE is a horseman and, after retiring from his career in the meat industry, he discovered the wonderful work Riding for the Disabled have doing in Northern Ireland for so many years and he developed a keen interest in Equine Assisted Services.

The panel discussion at the One Equine Trust workshop 'The Movement of the Horse' with CAFRE in November 2023. Event facilitator, Leo Powell, is pictured with the speakers Rupert Isaacson, Richard Moore, Terri Brosnan, Orlagh Daly, Clare McMonagle and Clare Maria Campbell.

Richard, along with a few other dedicated people, set up and run the One Equine Trust, which was launched in November 2020 (the recording of this virtual launch is available on YouTube for anyone wishing to find out more). During the launch, various people including parents, teachers and politicians, expressed their support for the concept of Equine Assisted Services and bringing it into the mainstream in Northern Ireland.

Richard hopes that reaching out to an equine audience will help to raise awareness of what Equine Assisted Services are, how they can help people, particularly children (but many others too, including those who have experienced various types of trauma, those who may have found themselves entangled in the judicial system and lots of others) and how Northern Ireland should be an ideal location to make Equine Assisted Services work on a much greater scale.

Richard at a visit to the Liskennett Equine Assisted Activity Centre (developed by the St Joseph’s Foundation) in August 2023.

Richard’s business background, along with his equine interests, make him an ideal spokesperson and, in fact, he was awarded an MBE in 2024 for his services in the area up to that point, with his work continuing.

Richard is passionate about bringing Equine Assisted Services to all those in Northern Ireland who might benefit from them. Horse people tend to know the benefit of being around these wonderful creatures, but don’t always realise that there is scientific proof of their therapeutic effects, both physically and mentally, to people from all walks of life.

If you would like to find out more about the One Equine Trust, please visit: www.oneequine.org

Richard (front centre) pictured at the One Equine Trust workshop last June, also in collaboration with CAFRE, 'Partnerships Creating Pathways to Practice in EAS', with speakers, attendees and CAFRE staff members.

I hope you enjoy our chat!

Stay tuned for the next Straight From the Horse’s Mouth podcast on Horse & Field.