You do not have to explain anything, and you do not have to be ready to leave, to ask for information.
Take your time. If a relationship leaves you frightened, controlled, cut off from people or unsure of yourself, that matters. Control can involve money, housing, family, technology, animals, land, work or transport.
Safe enquiries, information and specialist signposting.
We listen to what you are asking, share information that fits rural and equestrian life, and help you find the right specialist service. We are not a 24-hour helpline, a refuge or a crisis service, and direct casework is not yet open. If you need immediate or specialist support, the services below are there now.
How to contact us safely
- Email enquiries@thebridlepath.co.uk. We aim to reply within two working days, during working hours.
- Call 01494 926880 during office hours. If nobody answers, leave a first name and a safe time to call back, or email instead. Please do not use this number in an emergency.
- Use an email account or phone the other person cannot see. Keep a first message brief; you do not need to share more than you want to.
- Tell us if there are times or ways of contacting you that are not safe, and we will work around them.
Leaving is not the same as being free, and in rural life the gate can be only the beginning.
For someone on a farm, yard or remote property, leaving the house may also mean needing a vehicle, fuel, money, keys, childcare, somebody to cover the animals, or somewhere safe to go many miles away. Where home and work are tied together, leaving a relationship can feel like losing a home, livelihood, community and identity at the same time.
Sometimes the horse is threatened. Sometimes access to the vehicle, keys or fuel is controlled. Sometimes the farm is someone's home, livelihood, inheritance and financial security all at once. We understand that, and we will not ask "why didn't you just leave?"
Abuse can affect anyone: women, men, older people, younger adults, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and people from every social and economic background. It may come from a partner, an ex-partner, or another family member, including an adult child.
You do not need to wait for our direct service to open to get support.
If you are calling from a mobile and cannot speak, listen and press 55 when prompted. Pressing 55 does not automatically reveal your location.
For women in England. Free, 24 hours a day.
Specialist support for male victims. Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.
24/7 support line for anyone aged 16 or over affected by rape or sexual abuse.
24/7 helpline for older people experiencing abuse, and anyone worried about an older person.
Information and specialist signposting for rural, farming and equestrian life. Not an emergency service.
You may be the person who notices.
A friend at the yard who has stopped coming. A neighbour who never seems to be allowed out alone. A relative whose partner answers every question for them. You do not need proof to ask us for information, and you do not have to name anyone.
If you are a vet, farrier, yard owner, feed merchant, employer or other professional, our professionals page sets out what to notice, what to ask and how to respond safely.
Small enough to keep, quiet enough to carry.
Our A6 quiet card carries the essentials with information and ways to find support. Yards, practices and rural organisations can download and print it, along with our poster and leaflet.