A charity is calling on the NHS to fund horse assistive services to help children stay emotionally and mentally healthy.

Cotswold-based welfare horses help young people develop trust, emotional regulation and confidence. Its users told the horses around the BBC that “there are a lot of things” that made them feel “brave.”

But the service is expensive, Mariariara Apruzzese, founder and director of the charity, said it was “heartbreaking” when people can’t afford it.

The NHS charity has previously funded the Horse Program, but its head of awarding Jon Goodwin said the NHS has become "increasingly overstretched" and its budget "can't extend everything."

Ms Apruzzese said she hopes the health minister will visit charities and witness their 12-week horse assisted learning program “first-hand”.

“We need to do more,” she said. “Children and families are waiting for proper support, and at the same time, children are suffering.”

But a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said they are currently unable to facilitate access.

Ms Apruzzese said it was “emotional” to watch the “groundbreaking” changes in children brought about by interactions with horses.

In some cases, she said, behaviors like self-harm have stopped.

She added that the NHS needs to go beyond “traditional therapy” and help horse-like organizations to “get more children before the crisis point.”

Losing parents, Nancy, nine, and her sister now live with a foster family.

Nancy said it was “helpful” with the horses and she had a “huge connection” with her favorite Marilyn.

She added: "I really think she knows that there are a lot of things happening in me and I know that there are a lot of things going on in her way, too."

Her father Asa said Olivia arrived at the horses because of high anxiety and selective nonverbalism, but her favorite horse, Archie, helped her start talking.

He added: “She has gained more confidence since she came here and she is learning how to interact with people.”

“A bright smile appeared on her face as she left the place- it was one of her happy places.

“From our perspective, this shift is amazing.”

The charity says it can help schools and families have financial status through public donations, grants and sponsorships.

Three groups of children participated in the program, a special education school in Cheltenham.

School students have complex needs and often experience trauma.

Its head of mental health Kirstin Eccles said the program enables students to enter the NHS’s five mental health steps “in one morning.”

She said it was “very special” to see the changes in children achieved on horses for happiness.

A NHS spokesman said they "see a record demand for mental health support" and that young people were receiving services increased by 60% compared to pre-pandemic.

They added: “In response, the NHS significantly promotes the mental health workforce for children and young people and increases the opportunity to get a mental health support team in schools so we can provide more support at an earlier stage.”