Meet the team

A woman riding a horse along a dirt trail, wearing a yellow safety vest and a helmet with a pom-pom, while another horse looks on from the foreground, with green fields and hills in the background on a sunny day.

Karen Farrell

Founder of Wellness in Wellies. With over 30 years worth of experience with children in education, pastoral support, and equine assisted learning. Karen is a licenced Thrive practitioner, as well as an Equimotional coach.

Karen started Wellness In Wellies with the aim of ensuring every young person not only has access to the outdoors, but the opportunity to learn new skills, improve their mental health, build relationships and confidence, and, most importantly, have a good time!

‘I love being able to help ad support young people through whatever struggles they are facing. It is the most rewarding thing in the world, watching the young people in my care blossom with confidence and new skills.’
‘I love taking Adam out for a nice hack through the countryside, walking my three dogs with my husband, Mark, and spending time with my family. We are all quite big football supporters, so Saturday nights are usually spent in front of the TV!’
‘Definitely a good coat and pair of waterproof trousers. There is nothing worse than being cold and wet in the winter! I am lucky to have some really great kit that keeps me warm and dry even in the worst of storms'.’

A woman in a maroon coat, black gloves, and a gray knit hat with a pom-pom is holding a multicolored lead rope next to a black and white horse at dusk, with a fence and trees in the background.

A person wearing a helmet and safety vest riding a black-and-white horse and petting a dark brown horse on a rural pathway.

Charley Farrell

Karen’s daughter, and general helper/groom. Charley has worked on several professional yards including a riding school, livery yard, and an equine assisted learning centre. Charley has her BHS Stage 1 and 2, as well as her level 3 diploma from Hartpury College.

Although Charley doesn’t get involved in the delivery of the sessions, she is always about on the yard, tending to the horses and driving about in her tractor!

‘I’ve always admired how attentive horses are, that no matter what they can always tell when you need a hug, or a bit of excitement in your life! I also love a good canter through the countryside, it beats anything else and always puts the biggest smile on my face.’
‘For me, its watching my mum live out her dreams. She has always wanted to be able to pilot a programme like this, and I couldn’t be prouder that she has been able to set this all up. Witnessing her come alive when delivering sessions is magical.’
‘I work at a dairy farm, so I spend a lot of time milking cows! When I’m not working, I’m either out walking my dog, reading a good book, or spending time with my friends. We all enjoy going to country shows and watching live music.’

A young girl with a blue helmet smiling as she stands next to a brown horse with a colorful ribbon on its bridle at an outdoor equestrian facility.

Four sheep standing on a dirt field inside a fenced area, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

Trixie, Ella, Lucie, and Maze

Our four sheep are all Jacob Herdwick cross breeds. They were born in the spring of 2024, and came to us once old enough, in the summertime of the same year.

Trixie and Ella were both hand reared after their mum abandoned them. Fortunately, they took well to this and you wouldn’t be able to tell at all now! They all have very big and very different personalities.

‘Definitely Lucie! She is usually the ringleader when it comes to causing trouble, always managing to notice if the electric fence is turned off, and usually running straight through it! She also once jumped out of the stable when it was time to be sheared!’
‘They all love their sheep nuts, and come running over as soon as they hear them rattling in the bucket. Apples are another of their favourites, and we sometimes hide them around their paddock for them to search for.’
‘They are done usually once a year, often in spring/early summer. This is essential to keep them cool through the hotter months, and to make it easier to prevent the flies from annoying them.’

A sheep with two lambs inside a barn with wooden walls and straw on the ground.

Young black and white goat standing on grass in front of a wooden fence under a partly cloudy sky.

Jill, Geoff, Lucie, and Maze

Our four goats are all pygmies, so they are the smallest animals on the farm! Despite their small size, they have the biggest personalities. You’ll often find them running around and climbing on anything they can find.

They love browsing through the hedgerows, finding their favourite plants, and eating as much as they can find. Just like the sheep, they also like to shout as soon as they hear a feed bucket rattling.

‘That would probably be Alan. He loves scratches, and with his long hair, he often gets things stuck in it - grass, food, straw, so he will stand so you can make him look nice again!’
‘Jill, Mary and Geoff were all born in the summer of 2024, and came to us once weaned in the autumn of the same year. Alan is slightly older, and stayed with his family for a little longer, coming to us in the beginning of 2025’
‘Yes, they do! But fear not, all of them are very well mannered, and use their horns to scratch their hard to reach itches, and push one another off of the food. We keep an eye on the horns to make sure they aren’t growing too long or getting sharp.’

Three goats in a fenced outdoor farm area at sunset, one standing on a wooden platform, one jumping, and another standing near a small tree with a sunny sky in the background.

Close-up of a black pony with a fluffy mane, standing in a grassy field under a bright blue sky with some clouds.

Annie and Dora

The two Shetland ponies both came from a rescue centre, so it took a little while to gain their trust. They are both really sweet, and absolutely love attention, especially being groomed, and going on adventures down the bridleway.

They are best friends, and like to do everything together, especially escaping their paddock! You’ll often find them grooming each other, sharing a bowl of feed, or led down napping together.

‘That would definitely be Dora, she is very vocal, especially at feeding time, and likes to make her opinions known at all times! Despite being a bit sassy, she is very sweet and such fun to work with.’
‘Annie is the dark bay, or brown one. Dora is the white and brown, or skewbald one. When they originally came to us, we actually got their names the wrong way around for several weeks! Oops’
‘They are not, no. They haven’t ever been trained to be ridden, and we aren’t any where near small enough to do it ourselves! They get most of their exercise and enrichment from going out for walks in hand, and completing the obstacle courses.’

A small horse, possibly a foal, standing in a grassy field with a wooden fence and sheep in the background.

A black horse with a white stripe on its nose, lying down on a bed of straw inside a wooden stable.

Adam

Adam is our Welsh section D gelding, he is 16 years old and stands at around 14.3 hands. We have owned Adam for over 10 years, meaning he is a big part of our family, and we couldn’t imagine life without him!

He is super cheeky, very opinionated, and loves to push his limits, making him really fun to work with. Out of all of the animals , Adam is the one you’re most likely to find led down asleep in the field or stable. He even sometimes snores!

‘No, actually it isn’t. His name on his passport is Brynrock Dasher. This fancy name is because he is a pure bred Welsh Section D, so his name is based on both his mum and dad’s. I have absolutely no idea where the nickname Adam came from, that’s what he was called when we bought him, and quite frankly, it suits him!’
‘A few. He loves having his bum scratched, so he can sometimes slowly move his bum towards you when he is being groomed, as if to say ‘here please’! He also always manages to pull his fly mask off in the field, so you have to hunt around until you find it.’
‘That would probably be between a good groom, and going foraging for plants. He will stand for hours being pampered, and has a really good sense of smell so can always find all the tasty plants in the hedgerows.’

A woman riding a black horse on a grassy field, wearing a helmet, vest, and riding gear, with trees and overcast sky in the background.

A rider wearing a blue helmet and dark jacket is jumping over a red and white obstacle on a brown horse with a blue saddle pad in an outdoor equestrian arena.

Piggy

Piggy is our British Thoroughbred mare, she was born in 2013, and standing at just under 16 hands, she is the biggest animal on the farm. Despite being the biggest, she is one of the gentlest, and most sensitive. Piggy is really interesting to watch because her emotions are always written on her face.

We bought piggy back in 2019, from a race yard, where she had spent most of her life. Unfortunately for Piggy, she was too slow, and was retired after one race (where she came last!)

‘Piggy absolutely loves Adam, the two of them are best friends. You will often find them grooming one another in the field, and they will call out to one another when they are separated. Their stables are opposite each other so they can always see their bestie!’
‘Most of the time, you’ll find Piggy eating (hence the name!). She is always grazing, eating her hay, or playing with her treat ball. Other than eating, she loves a good head scratch, and whenever it rains, she like to run about the field with the zoomies.’
‘Piggy is quite a quirky and sensitive mare, but that makes her really interesting to work with. Once you’ve gained her trust, she will do anything for you. She is super attentive to moods and body language, so is great for self reflection and working with emotions.’

A brown horse wearing a bridle and blue saddle pad, standing in front of a barn with brick and metal siding.

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