What is Equine Assisted Therapy?
Equine Assisted Therapy is different from traditional therapy in many ways, the most obvious being the partnership with our team or horses.
Assisted Therapy does not negate the potential need for traditional therapies or a mental health support team, but it does allow you to explore and process challenges or mental health difficulties in a less clinical environment. We provide the opportunity to develop a connection between horse and human in a non judgemental way.
Equine Assisted Therapy can have an effect in enabling creative thinking, increasing development skills, boosting self-confidence, encouraging expression of emotions, releasing stress, teaching you to trust and aiding communication.
Each session is individually tailored to you.
The sessions can include a range of activities such as; herd watching, grooming, feeding, caring for the horse, problem solving and overcoming obstacles.
How Can We Help?
Anybody and everybody is welcome at Equine-Connect.
Initially, we will start by matching you to a horse or pony suitable for your needs. Then the sessions can begin, whether you always wanted to experience being around horses, or to help with your healing process from trauma, abuse, lack of self confidence, any kind of addiction, behaviour or eating disorders/ learning differences.
We will offer support and guidance in any way we can.
Sessions are approximately 1 hour in duration. They can be held as frequently as appropriate or you would like them to be.
Each session is tailored to each individual to ensure we offer you the opportunity for personal development.
Equine Assisted Therapy is not free of charge, occasionally we have access to funding to provide these sessions but please contact us to discuss further.
Further questions and answers are listed below
To enquire about Equine Assisted Therapy, please complete the form below.
Commonly Asked Questions
How many sessions do I have to come to?
As many sessions as you think you need! There is no minimum or maximum amount of sessions available to you. You can book for 1 stand alone session or multiple sessions.
What if I don’t like the horse I am matched with?
Initially, we will try to match you with a horse/pony we feel is best suited to you. You are more than welcome to look through our website and meet the horses we have at Equine-Connect, but we cannot guarantee that you will work with your favourite or preferred horse/pony straight away.
However, if you do not like the horse/ pony you are paired with, then we can try matching you with a different horse at the next session. There may also be occasions where you really like a particular horse/pony but may have to work with a different horse for a session- in these situations we will always try to discuss it with you first to make sure you are comfortable.
Will I get to ride any of the horses during my sessions?
No, Equine Assisted Therapy does not include any horse riding, all the sessions non-ridden. All of the sessions focus on interactions with the horses but no riding.
I am interested but am not sure if I could afford it?
If you think Equine Assisted Therapy could be useful to you or someone you know, please get in contact with us, sometimes we are able to access funding to provide mental health support to people, which we can discuss in more detail after initial contact is made.