Adventure | Healing | Connection
We promote adventure and wellbeing through the power of the horse
The Big Hoof journeys support charities with a focus on mental health, wellbeing & child welfare. We have raised over £93,000 for charities in UK and Europe, and have travelled over 5,000 km in 5 different countries.
We promote and discover routes new & old, encouraging accessibility, community & sustainability. In 2024 we made our way across the Highlands, raising £8,200 for two local suicide prevention charities. Join a 2025 journey and help make a difference.
The Big Hoof is a Scottish charity that organises long-distance treks, with horses at its heart and a clear focus on mental health: Free and accessible to everyone.
Our aim is to improve mental wellbeing by inviting and inspiring people to go outdoors, using the horse as a vehicle for connection.
Upcoming Events
Burns Night 2025
On the 1st of February, The Big Hoof will celebrate their annual Burns Night evening at The Caledonian Club, London.
Come and capture the family spirit of The Big Hoof with whisky, dancing, haggis, bagpipes and auction, together with participants from our rides and folk from the charities.
With great thanks to Ardnamurchan Whiskey, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Fera GB & Blundstone Boots
Upcoming Journeys
FareWays 2025:
Loch Tay
Every year we travel 200 miles in the UK for a given cause. The FareWays journeys are wild, inclusive and travel through the most unchartered parts of the UK. Have a listen to the BBC Radio 4 short documentary about our 2023 trip across Scotland.
In May 2024 we journeyed across the Highlands in support of two suicide prevention charities, raising £7,500. 14 participants and 60 primary school children joined.
You don’t need a horse, just a good pair of shoes and a willingness to do some good. Join us on our 2025 March journey around Loch Tay, open to all!
“Today's biggest mental health issue is to
"feel alone". If I was a doctor, I would prescribe everyone to walk with their neighbour...”
— Tristan, 2024 Fareways participant
In Other News
The Big Hoof Feast!
Oh what a night! On 29 November 2024, we hosted our first ever Feast. Raffi Parker, chef and member of The Big Hoof team, cooked up a delicious spread, and there was live music from Elio Rojas Latin Jazz trio. Artworks were sold, The Big Hoof Christmas Postcards and much more. The evening was to raise funds and awareness for the ME Association and The Big Hoof. [ Small Beer Brewery, Southwark, London ]
Talks
This September, our Director of Programmes, Kiki, was invited to give the opening lecture for the yearly AAI Symposium [Animal Assisted Intervention] at the University of Applied Sciences in Dronten (NL). Big Hoof founder Louis Hall also spoke at the Royal Geographical Society in October. In our public talks, The Big Hoof aims to inform people about the transformative power of the horse, address problems surrounding mental wellbeing and promote the outdoors.
Read more about Big Hoof Talks here
BBC Radio 4 ‘Highlands With Horses’
Wondering what a Big Hoof journey is really like? Listen to journalist and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota’s ‘Open Country’ piece as she joined us on our recent ride across Scotland.
Listen now on BBC sounds here
The Big Hoof is currently supporting Insulate Ukraine
After spending three weeks in Izyum, in the Kharkiv Oblast of eastern Ukraine, The Big Hoof have teamed up with NGO Insulate Ukraine. This UK based organisation has pioneered a glassless solution to one of the greatest issues faced by the devastated communities of eastern Ukraine: windows blown out by the war. emergency home-built solutions to replace windows blown out by the war.
Hooves and Healing:
Big Hoof Collaborations
In May, The Big Hoof team rode into Dunfermline town, Scotland, to meet folk from inner-city areas to introduce them to the horses. Two weeks later, we hosted a group at the farm to garden, ride, enjoy the open spaces and make some delicious fresh pesto! All in collaboration with the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.
‘The horses’ impact in just a couple of hours was remarkable, even for those who were wary of getting too close. It was lovely to be able to facilitate this session especially as it turned out to be such a big hit. There were smiles all round, and a feeling of real achievement for the group….’
