The Armed Forces Equine Charity (AFEC) is proud to announce the appointment of Matthew Ruddy as its first-ever Health and Wellbeing Officer, marking a major milestone in the charity’s commitment to holistic support for veterans and service personnel.
Following a highly competitive recruitment process, Matthew was selected from a strong field of candidates across the health, military, and third sectors. His appointment reflects AFEC’s strategic ambition to embed trauma-informed, equine-assisted wellbeing into its core delivery model.
Matthew brings a rare blend of clinical expertise, lived military experience, and deep equestrian engagement. A qualified Mental Health Nurse with an MSc in Psychology, his academic work has focused on post-traumatic growth in UK veterans through equine-assisted programmes. He is a Trauma Risk Incident Management (TRIM) practitioner, Mental Health First Aider, and is currently undertaking his OCN Level 3 qualification in Facilitating Equine Assisted Learning.
His operational background includes service in Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan as part of the UK Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Search Task Force. He has supported veterans and vulnerable adults for over eight years in the third sector, notably as a live-in peer mentor with HorseBack UK.
Matthew’s experience spans programme design, delivery, and safeguarding, with partnerships across Hartpury University, HorseBack UK, and international equine welfare organisations. His lived experience as the husband of a serving member of RAF adds further depth to his understanding of military family dynamics and resilience.
James Balls MBE, Founding CEO of AFEC, said:
“Matthew’s appointment is a landmark moment for the charity. His blend of clinical insight, operational experience, and equine fluency is exactly what we need to deepen our impact. He embodies the ethos of AFEC—compassionate, credible, and committed to transformation through connection.”
Major General (Retired) Robert Talbot Rice CBE, Chair of Trustees, added:
“We are delighted to welcome Matthew to the team. His credentials speak for themselves, but it’s his integrity, empathy, and understanding of the Armed Forces community that make him such a powerful addition. This role is central to our future, and Matthew is the right person to shape it.”
Matthew will lead the development and delivery of AFEC’s health and wellbeing programmes, ensuring they remain inclusive, evidence-based, and rooted in lived experience. His appointment signals a new chapter in AFEC’s mission to support veterans through equine connection, community, and care.
