The Acorn Centre was part of a life long vision for Katherine Dillon its owner and 53 years ago her vision for creating a safe place for children, young people and Adults to heal and recover from trauma, illness and poor mental health began……

‘Experiencing early childhood trauma and grief myself, I was fortunate enough to be referred to a very forward thinking child psychologist who recommended to my Parents that ‘the back of a horses would be good’ for my recovery’.

That was over 50 years ago and to this day horses have been an intrinsic part of my life.

After that first experience of literally being sat on the back of a horse at 9 years of age and being transported somehow into another world gradually free of physical discomfort and internal conflict, growing stronger not only in limbs and body but in my head and heart too.

From those early days, learning to ride was fun, but it was simply being around them that Katherine began to notice the incredible effect the horses had on peoples moods, how they seemed to open up lines of silent but effective communication, creating the ability to express feelings and emotions, to begin to explore and wonder about the natural world around us.