Horses bring hope

When Emily Porter went to her first session with Horses For Hope two years ago, she was too anxious to go on school excursions by herself, let alone school camps or sleepovers.

Now, the 11-year-old credits the program with her ability to “do anything”.

“Anything is possible after having a session with Horses For Hope,” Emily said.

“I feel like I can do anything.”

Horses For Hope was launched in 2004 by Colin Emonson and, on 10 hectares outside Mooroopna, participants take part in a unique form of counselling therapy.

They work with troubled horses.

Horse practitioner Caz Pringle-Bowden said the program teaches participants new ways of coping with day-to-day problems.

“Participants learn emotional regulation skills in order to be with a horse who has experienced trauma,” Caz said.

“What they learn in the horse yard they can apply to their own lives.”

During the hour-and-a-half sessions, participants sit down in the barn to discuss any previous sessions, or what is worrying them, before heading out into the paddock.

“We’ll pair them with a horse, and they help do an activity with them, like getting on and off a horse float, getting used to wearing a saddle,” Caz said.

“Importantly, they help the horse to feel calm and safe around humans.”

Afterwards, participants head back into the barn for a debriefing session.

Anyone from three to 83 (and older) can come to Horses For Hope for therapy.

Caz said it was particularly beneficial for primary and secondary school-aged kids.

For children who have learning disabilities or behavioural issues, Caz said working with the horses, where they have to be calm, can translate and teach them how to be calm in the classroom.

“They find they can actually learn and take instruction better,” she said.

“We see a lot of people who can’t sit still at the beginning of the session, and then after they work with the horses, they can.”

Emily Porter’s mum Jo Weymouth has seen the benefits of the therapy in practice.

“Emily is on the [autism] spectrum, so emotional things can be quite challenging, and friends can be difficult,” Jo said.

“I’ve seen her be able to communicate and be able to deal with those sorts of issues.”

An intensive course of weekly sessions with Horses For Hope even prepared Emily to spend all four nights at school camp.

The day before the camp began, Emily was working with Rain, a particularly troubled horse who is quite worried and fearful.

During the session, Rain was spooked and scared Emily away from her.

But after sensing Emily’s fear, Rain eventually came over to her to let her know all was okay.

The next day, Emily confidently attended school camp — and stayed the entire time.

“She really enjoyed it,” Jo said.

“And the experience really helped her prepare.”

Caz said the counselling aspect of the sessions were based on ‘narrative therapy’, which empowers the participant to be the expert in their own life.

She said it was important that significant people in participants’ lives also attend sessions in order to see them in a different light and mark their progress.

Jo said for parents, it was good to learn the same strategies your child learns.

“I’m able to remind Emily of the strategies she learnt with the horses,” she said.

Caz said Emily was a significant help to the horses in the program.

“We’ve worked with Emily with everything from emotional regulation to leadership,” she said.

“It’s helped her become a confident young person.”

For more information, visit: www.horsesforhope.org.au

You can get in touch with Colin on 0417 541 778 or info@horsesforhope.org.au