About Us
At EquiScholars HQ, our work is grounded in the belief that children and young people thrive when they feel safe, regulated and connected. Our team brings together expertise in equine behaviour, polyvagal theory, trauma-aware practice and therapeutic education, creating a setting where learning and emotional growth happen side by side.
Together, we combine evidence-based theory with compassionate, relationship-led practice to support both CYP and horses to feel understood, valued and capable.
Kate Blackmore
Centre Manager & Equine Behaviour Consultant
Kate Blackmore is the founder of our provision and an experienced equine behaviour consultant and mentor. With many years of experience working alongside children, young people and horses, she has developed programmes that mix education, emotional development and ethical equine welfare.
Kate’s specialist background in equine behaviour sits at the heart of her work. Having supported numerous horses through behavioural challenges, she designs tailored behaviour modification plans grounded in ethology (the science of animal behaviour). She is passionate about helping young people understand how horses communicate, form relationships and regulate themselves, using these parallels to support emotional literacy, safety and co-regulation.
Kate is also the founder of EquiScholars, a modular equine-behaviour curriculum now used internationally across alternative provisions, equine-assisted therapeutic centres, sanctuaries, pony clubs and other welfare-led learning environments. Through this work, she has supported organisations to embed ethical, science-informed equine education into their settings, enabling young people and horses to benefit from compassionate, experience-based learning.
Connection between humans, horses and the wider environment drives everything Kate does. Her vision has always been to create safe, nurturing spaces where children can grow in confidence while learning in partnership with horses. By combining behavioural science with therapeutic and educational insight, she ensures every participant, human and equine, is supported with compassion, clarity and care.
Claire Cottrell
Polyvagal-Informed & Thrive Practitioner, Mentor & Yoga Instructor
Claire Cottrell leads our therapeutic programmes, bringing together her academic grounding in psychology with extensive hands-on experience supporting children and young people. Her First Class Honours Degree in Psychology provides a strong foundation in human development, emotions and connection but it is her deep relational practice that defines her work.
As a Polyvagal-informed Thrive Practitioner, Claire helps young people understand their nervous systems and develop the tools they need to feel safe, regulated and resilient. She is gifted at creating warm, non-judgemental spaces where children feel seen, heard and understood.
Claire played a central role in developing our 16-week Early Intervention Programme, weaving together neuroscience, attachment theory and trauma-aware practice. Her approach ensures the programme remains flexible, relational and responsive to each CYP’s nervous system state while providing practical strategies they can carry back into everyday life and learning.
Claire also works closely with other alternative provisions, delivering staff training, consultancy and mentoring to support consistent, high-quality practice across the sector. Her calm, grounded presence shapes the culture of our provision, ensuring that both children and adults experience the safety and relational consistency that underpins all effective therapeutic work.
Gemma Adams
Thrive Practitioner & Mentor
Gemma is a dedicated practitioner with a passion for supporting both people and animals through therapeutic and educational approaches. She is a PAWS certified dog trainer, BHS trained, a qualified Thrive Practitioner, and is currently completing her training with the IAAT to become an Equine Sports Massage Therapist.
With over 10 years’ experience working with children and young people, Gemma brings a calm, nurturing presence to her work, supporting individuals on a 1:1 basis as well as within learning environments. She plays a key role in delivering our EquiCollege programme, where she shares her knowledge in an accessible and engaging way.
Gemma has a particular interest in equine biomechanics and muscular function, and enjoys helping learners understand how a horse’s body works, how movement impacts wellbeing, and the importance of physical care in maintaining healthy horses.
Gemma also works alongside her therapy dog, Isla, who supports selected sessions where appropriate, offering an additional layer of comfort and connection for the young people she works with.
Emma Bettridge
Creative Writing Facilitator & Mentor
Emma brings a unique blend of creativity, education, and animal partnered experience to our alternative provision. As a children’s author, theatre producer, and early years facilitator, Emma has spent her career designing and delivering engaging, imaginative experiences for young people.
Alongside her arts career, Emma has always been drawn to working with children and animals. From training young horses and dogs, to leading PGL residential camps and teaching at riding schools, her experience has spanned both education and equine care. For many years she has combined these passions within equine alternative provision, delivering equine partnered learning programmes that support children and young people in building confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation.
Emma also runs Stories in the Wilds, her creative workshops delivered across alternative education settings in the South West. These sessions weave together storytelling, play, and nature-based learning, offering children new ways to express themselves and explore their inner worlds.
Her ability to merge creativity with therapeutic and educational practice makes Emma an invaluable member of our team, supporting learners to discover new strengths and reconnect with the joy of learning in safe, nurturing environments.
Nikki Hawker
Content Development Specialist & Mentor
Nikki plays a key role within our provision, leading on the delivery and coordination of our City & Guilds qualifications and creating supportive and enriching learning experiences for our students.
She is a qualified Equine Trainer through the Natural Animal Centre and brings a wealth of practical knowledge alongside a strong understanding of how children and young people learn best. Nikki is also a Content Development Specialist for the EquiScholars curriculum, which underpins our provision, and a Community Expert within the wider EquiScholars membership, where she supports centres worldwide to deliver the curriculum with confidence.
Nikki has a real strength in breaking down complex ideas into clear, accessible concepts, helping learners to build confidence, stay engaged, and develop a deeper understanding at their own pace.
Alongside her professional work, Nikki cares for her own sheep and goats, and her genuine love for animals is at the heart of everything she does.