Sam, 31, was hungover that morning. He had gotten into an argument with his kids’ mum the night before and ended up getting drunk. Despite not wanting anything to do with horses and being scared of them, he was taken to a farm by Steve, a criminal rehabilitation case worker. When Sam came face to face with a therapy horse, he felt drawn to it. The horse rested its head on his shoulder, washing away all his worries. This experience marked the beginning of Sam’s journey in a rehabilitation programme for former prisoners aimed at reducing reoffending rates. The programme, which involves horses therapy and mentorship, has been successful in helping men like Sam find a new direction in life. The high rate of reoffending in the UK has led to emergency measures being implemented, including releasing prisoners on bail and scrapping sentences of less than a year for most offenders. Key4Life, a crime prevention charity, offers a different approach to addressing the problem by providing equine and music therapy, neuro-linguistic programming, and emotional release sessions to help men build resilience and release negative behaviors. The programme has had a significant impact on individuals like Sam, who have faced challenges and struggles in their lives. Eva Hamilton, founder of Key4Life, has dedicated her life to helping marginalized communities and has successfully transformed the lives of many individuals through innovative rehabilitation programmes.
