Since Horseback UK was established in 2009, more than 500 active and former servicemen and women have visited the farm at Dinnet, near Aboyne.
Only one person has not taken to the horses during their course, and given the programme’s success, it has been extended to help the wider community.
A pilot scheme has been run at Banchory Academy to help youngsters who are struggling with confidence and self-esteem, and the charity has also worked with the Venture Trust, which helps those who come from a challenging background make their lives better.
And as well as delivering motivational talks to oil companies, the team at Horseback UK is also working closely with local chamber of commerce groups and department store John Lewis.
Corporal Jay Hare, who spent a day on the shop floor in Aberdeen, said: “It’s about bringing the team together in a common direction with the same principles of leadership.
“It was a fairly different environment from a battlefield in Afghanistan, but it was extremely interesting and useful to have insight into that industry and to see how business is conducted.
“There’s no point in me talking about leadership and team building without really understanding how the operate, so I can put it into their terms and terminology, so it was useful.”
Rob Holder, head of branch at John Lewis Aberdeen, said the visit had also been of help to the staff, adding: “After spending time getting to know the Horseback UK team, it’s obvious their passion, enthusiasm and military expertise have helped the charity to grow over the last five years. It was great to see their work with John Lewis Aberdeen staff to encourage camaraderie, team spirit and strong leadership.”