Equine-Assisted Learning

By spending time with our herd, in our beautiful natural environment, we hope to provide a space for reflection, calm and to develop a greater understanding of ourselves.

What skills does equine-assisted learning support?

Self-Regulation

Horses are carefully attuned to the emotions of those around them, and so being able to regulate your own emotions is a crucial part of successfully interacting with them.

Communication

Verbal and non-verbal communication skills are enhanced in our sessions, as we consider how both what we say and our body language can communicate information to the horses, and we discuss how they are communicating with us.

Self-Confidence

Horses are large, powerful animals and in our sessions they make the choice to engage with you. Once they make that choice, it's important that you respect the trust they've placed in you and engage with them confidently and with compassion.

Compassion

When working with another living being, it's crucial that we consider the impact our actions have on them. You'll be encouraged to consider things from their point of view, and what steps you could take to ensure they are comfortable during our sessions.

Who we can help...

Young people disengaged from school or learning
Young people experiencing school refusal
People struggling with social connection

People experiencing the following conditions:

Neurodiversity (ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder)
Learning difficulties
Developmental delays
Anxiety or depression

Please note that Sarah is not a mental health expert and we would always recommend our support is used in conjunction with and under guidance from a qualified mental health professional.

What does a session look like?

Each session is different, depending on how both the participant and the horses are feeling that day.

Some participants might spend time in the paddock with the whole herd, observing their interactions and body language while practising mindfulness or just enjoying the stillness that comes from being with the herd.

Some sessions might involve more deliberate interactions with a particular horse, such as grooming or taking them on a bush walk.

All sessions are one-on-one with Sarah and can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual. We work at a pace both the participant and horses are comfortable with.

"Children...who participated in a series of once-weekly, 90 minute sessions of equine facilitated activities were found to have lower afternoon cortisol levels and lower total cortisol concentration per waking hour..."

Pendry, Smith and Roeter (2014)