Who we are.

We’re a small, heart-led charity rooted in nature, connection, and care.

At Mawdesley Equine & People Trust (MEPT), we bring together horses, humans, and healing to create safe, inclusive spaces where everyone belongs. This page shares the values, people, and stories that shape our work and guide everything we do.

Our story

Founded in 2001 by Sue and Tim Carr, Mawdesley Equine & People Trust (MEPT) began with a simple belief: that horses and humans can heal together.

What started as a sanctuary for rescued horses has grown into a charity rooted in compassion, inclusion, and second chances. Through our two projects—Jigsaw and Rainbow’s End—we offer gentle rehabilitation for misunderstood horses, trauma-informed support for people of all ages and abilities, and peaceful nature-based experiences that nurture emotional wellbeing.

Whether you come to ride, reflect, or reconnect, you’ll find a space where kindness leads and every story matters.

Person hugging a brown horse with a red halter at a stable

At MEPT, our mission is to rescue and rehabilitate horses, nurture emotional wellbeing, and create inclusive spaces where healing happens through connection.

We believe that everyone deserves a place where they feel safe, seen, and supported. That’s why we create secure, sensory-aware environments where people of all ages and abilities can reconnect—with nature, with wildlife, and with themselves. Whether through quiet moments in the stable, shared laughter on a woodland walk, or the gentle rhythm of grooming a pony, our spaces are designed to foster trust, emotional safety, and meaningful connection.

Our mission

Three boys holding up pictures of a horse with a white background, standing outdoors on a concrete surface near a wooden building with a black fence and green trees in the background.

Our values

MEPT is founded on compassion, inclusion, and second chances.

We rescue and rehabilitate horses, support emotional wellbeing through trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice, and offer nature-based experiences for people of all ages and abilities.

Our values shape everything we do—from safeguarding and accessibility to community engagement and long-term impact.

  • We honour the emotional lives of horses, humans, and the natural world—meeting each with patience, respect, and care.

  • We welcome people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Our spaces are neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and emotionally safe.

  • Whether it’s a hoofbeat, a birdsong, or a quiet moment in nature, we believe healing happens through gentle, meaningful connection.

  • We give misunderstood horses—and people—another chance to thrive. Every story matters. Every life is valued.

  • We foster emotional growth, confidence, and resilience through hands-on experiences, reflective practice, and kindness-led support.

The heart behind MEPT.

MEPT was founded by Sue and Tim Carr, a devoted husband-and-wife team with a lifelong passion for horses, nature, and community care.

Their vision began with a single rescue pony and grew into a sanctuary where animals heal, people connect, and partnerships flourish. Their hands-on dedication continues to shape every corner of MEPT — from the stables to the outreach programmes — with kindness, courage, and a deep belief in second chances.

Sue and Tim’s approach is gentle but powerful: rooted in lived experience, guided by compassion, and always attuned to the needs of those who feel overlooked or unheard. They’ve built MEPT not just as a place, but as a philosophy—where emotional safety matters, where difference is welcomed, and where healing happens through relationship, rhythm, and respect. Their legacy lives on in every hoofbeat, every workshop, and every moment of quiet connection.

Learn more
A woman and a man standing outdoors in a wooded area, smiling at the camera, holding a black and white horse with a halter. The woman is on the left, and the man is on the right.

  • "A very special place, supporting people and horses in a tranquil setting."

    Lorraine

  • "I love coming to Jigsaw. Sue is calm, patient, and understanding - and certainly has a lot of knowledge about horses!"

    Paul

  • “Sue was amazing with my daughter, who has ADHD; she had an incredible time and felt truly understood. We’ll definitely be booking again.”

    Lisa

  • "A very special charity offering second chances—for animals, people, and the land we share."

    Diane

  • “No two visits to Jigsaw are ever the same. There’s always something gentle, surprising, and deeply special waiting to be discovered.”

    Ben

  • "If it wasn't for Sue and Bob, I wouldn't be able to ride. The difference in my hips, pelvis, core, and overall comfort is amazing."

    Gill