Devon Tretheway-Koppers
Salient Equine Trust Scholarship 2024

Devon Tretheway-Koppers, the therapeutic programme lead for EquiPotential Equine Assisted Services in Hamilton, has been awarded a Salient Equine Trust Scholarship for 2024. This was a special award from the Salient Trust.

This enabled her to attend the Horses in Education and Therapy International congress (HETI) in Budapest, Hungary, from 18-22 June 2024 to bring her knowledge up to an international standard.

The most common therapeutic riding service in NZ consists of the “riding for the disabled” organisations, which limit intake to those with physical or mental disabilities.

Four years ago, four of these organisations converted to “EquiPotential”, an organisation that also accepts individuals with mental health concerns, and it is in this field that so many additional advantages can be gained. Intake has increased from 150 people per 10-week block to 200, and many are people coming from psychiatric institutions, people with depression, people who have self-harmed and people who have trouble with communication.

Trained coaches design, develop and deliver specialised programmes enabling people to build their capabilities through interaction with horses and to allow them to find strength and improve wellbeing and independence. Follow-up has revealed that many people improved after interactions with horses.

NZERF appreciates the financial support of the Salient Trust and Jenny Kain for this Scholarship.