EQuine assisted therapy
The natural world had always been my salvation as a child, but I found myself in a dark place in my late teens when living and working in London. My way back to myself and health, was found trekking on a pony over the Black Mountains. So, when I later worked with children with special needs, young people at Agricultural College and then as a counsellor, I was always looking for opportunities to bring engagement with animals and nature into my work.
Skip on many years and my daughter became interested in ponies. This led us to pony shares and loans. Our interest called us to learn about horse psychology and herd dynamics, I saw how working therapeutically with horses could change us, so I took on further training in Equine Therapy (IFEEL) and understood the neuroscience behind this. I ran workshops for individuals and small groups, engaging with the horses and contributed to and benefited from much research.
Horses have been in partnership with man for thousands of years and have shaped our evolution, I always think that without fire and horses, we would not be here (a good or bad thing?) and certainly not had such easy lives. The relationship is very deep in our psyches, and many are drawn to horses.
Equine therapy is now much more common and there are as many different modes as I believe there are practitioners and organisations. You may say horses for courses, but in truth the horses should always just be themselves, it is the therapeutic approach being offered that differs. Just as there are many different approaches, training and qualifications in other therapies.
In 2014 when we relocated to the South Hams, Cuckoo Farm ticked the boxes for a low impact and sustainable holding, but there was much work to do, including taking on 3 ponies left behind who needed to integrate into our herd.
At the heart of the way I work is THE HERD, the family of horses. Just like our families, they consist of individuals with very different roles and personalities. Through observing the herd over many, many thousands of hours we can understand it as an ecosystem. Horses are essentially Prey Animals, they have evolved to survive predators and desire a peaceful life, eating, feeling safe and procreating to ensure the herd endures. If we want to partner with them to learn more about ourselves, we must create circumstances in which they live as closely as possible to horses in a wild state.
We keep the horses together, out all day, every day, coming in to be checked for a short time and have extra hay in Winter. Each has its place in the herd and can be themselves, we are in constant engagement, we see if anything changes.
Some of the people I work with have had experience with horses before, others not. For many like me, horses become a lifeline to health. Some come to explore their fears, others just to hang out with them. When a horse’s head is lowered to graze it is relaxed and they are producing all the feelgood hormones. If we are nearby our brains pick up on these. (Proven!)
People ask what equine therapy sessions might be like, it depends what the client or group are seeking, but I know for certain that horses can help in many situations, through them I teach emotional intelligence, people find confidence, resilience and positive self-regard. We spend time observing, learning to communicate, sometimes leading, grooming, work at liberty. There is no ridden work. As the work requires us to be very present, the skills for that, help to balance our whole selves, to regulate our nervous system and develop tools for self-reflection. Observing and engaging with an individual horse or the herd can highlight unhelpful patterns and family dynamics, teach us about boundaries.
There needs to be confidence and trust in the practitioner, the bridge between the horse wisdom and the client. Developing trust can be a long process and its sometimes easier to relate to an animal than a person. People who have experienced trauma may identify with a horse and embark on a journey of recovery. So, all must feel Safe and Sound, Seen and Heard, the rooted place from where ideally, as children, we ventured out. We aim to create the right environment for that at Cuckoo Farm
We offer
Individual and group therapy which can include working with horses, nature, arts, crafts, story, and conversation.
Introductory days, Horse Play, courses like Horsepower, and residential retreats.
Childrens ‘Think Like A Pony’ days or birthday parties.
3-day Summer Camps and Opportunities for Learning about consensual leadership.
Also, Informal volunteer days (or sessions), where we are helped with general horse care/field work and share food and an evening fire.
As our herd are crucial to this work, it’s only fair to share a little from the horses’ mouths.
Jake
I took over as herd leader from Solveig, in 2022. I think I’m quite good at it and anyway there was no one else prepared to take it on, but it is a big job and it’s made me quite grey! My personality suits the role most of the time, but sometimes the herd need a lot of convincing.
Tommy
I came here after living alone for some time. I developed lots of skills when living alone like hypervigilance, so my role in this herd has become the sentinel. I feel very safe in the herd now and so I can relax a lot more.
Mernka
I’m the old girl and my motto has always been Carry on Regardless, I’m a Fjord horse and I’m 33. I’m near the bottom of the herd but that suits me as I’m looking for a quiet life.
Polly
I was living here when this new lot arrived. I’m a small Shetland pony, I’m head of light entertainment. I certainly gave them a run for their money. I can get away with a lot by being small and practicing stealth moves.
Florence
I’m a small Caspian coming from a desert ancestry, and I think very differently to these Fjords who live in freezing temperatures in their native lands. I’m quite flirty and like fun, I like having lots of friends.
Holly
I’m the largest horse here and I did think of taking on the leadership and sometimes I help Jake out. I have done many different things in my time and I’m very polite around people.
Daisy
I’m a Fjord too. My mum Solveig was herd leader until she died in 2022. I got used to depending on her to sort it all out, then I could just do my own thing, I like that. Recently I’ve been ill and I couldn’t eat very well, that was a big shock to my system…I’m getting better now. I spent many years driving with my mum.
I would urge anyone who feels they, or a friend or family member could benefit from, or enjoy some horse time to get in touch with me via [email protected]
See our current programme of workshops under MORE...
Skip on many years and my daughter became interested in ponies. This led us to pony shares and loans. Our interest called us to learn about horse psychology and herd dynamics, I saw how working therapeutically with horses could change us, so I took on further training in Equine Therapy (IFEEL) and understood the neuroscience behind this. I ran workshops for individuals and small groups, engaging with the horses and contributed to and benefited from much research.
Horses have been in partnership with man for thousands of years and have shaped our evolution, I always think that without fire and horses, we would not be here (a good or bad thing?) and certainly not had such easy lives. The relationship is very deep in our psyches, and many are drawn to horses.
Equine therapy is now much more common and there are as many different modes as I believe there are practitioners and organisations. You may say horses for courses, but in truth the horses should always just be themselves, it is the therapeutic approach being offered that differs. Just as there are many different approaches, training and qualifications in other therapies.
In 2014 when we relocated to the South Hams, Cuckoo Farm ticked the boxes for a low impact and sustainable holding, but there was much work to do, including taking on 3 ponies left behind who needed to integrate into our herd.
At the heart of the way I work is THE HERD, the family of horses. Just like our families, they consist of individuals with very different roles and personalities. Through observing the herd over many, many thousands of hours we can understand it as an ecosystem. Horses are essentially Prey Animals, they have evolved to survive predators and desire a peaceful life, eating, feeling safe and procreating to ensure the herd endures. If we want to partner with them to learn more about ourselves, we must create circumstances in which they live as closely as possible to horses in a wild state.
We keep the horses together, out all day, every day, coming in to be checked for a short time and have extra hay in Winter. Each has its place in the herd and can be themselves, we are in constant engagement, we see if anything changes.
Some of the people I work with have had experience with horses before, others not. For many like me, horses become a lifeline to health. Some come to explore their fears, others just to hang out with them. When a horse’s head is lowered to graze it is relaxed and they are producing all the feelgood hormones. If we are nearby our brains pick up on these. (Proven!)
People ask what equine therapy sessions might be like, it depends what the client or group are seeking, but I know for certain that horses can help in many situations, through them I teach emotional intelligence, people find confidence, resilience and positive self-regard. We spend time observing, learning to communicate, sometimes leading, grooming, work at liberty. There is no ridden work. As the work requires us to be very present, the skills for that, help to balance our whole selves, to regulate our nervous system and develop tools for self-reflection. Observing and engaging with an individual horse or the herd can highlight unhelpful patterns and family dynamics, teach us about boundaries.
There needs to be confidence and trust in the practitioner, the bridge between the horse wisdom and the client. Developing trust can be a long process and its sometimes easier to relate to an animal than a person. People who have experienced trauma may identify with a horse and embark on a journey of recovery. So, all must feel Safe and Sound, Seen and Heard, the rooted place from where ideally, as children, we ventured out. We aim to create the right environment for that at Cuckoo Farm
We offer
Individual and group therapy which can include working with horses, nature, arts, crafts, story, and conversation.
Introductory days, Horse Play, courses like Horsepower, and residential retreats.
Childrens ‘Think Like A Pony’ days or birthday parties.
3-day Summer Camps and Opportunities for Learning about consensual leadership.
Also, Informal volunteer days (or sessions), where we are helped with general horse care/field work and share food and an evening fire.
As our herd are crucial to this work, it’s only fair to share a little from the horses’ mouths.
Jake
I took over as herd leader from Solveig, in 2022. I think I’m quite good at it and anyway there was no one else prepared to take it on, but it is a big job and it’s made me quite grey! My personality suits the role most of the time, but sometimes the herd need a lot of convincing.
Tommy
I came here after living alone for some time. I developed lots of skills when living alone like hypervigilance, so my role in this herd has become the sentinel. I feel very safe in the herd now and so I can relax a lot more.
Mernka
I’m the old girl and my motto has always been Carry on Regardless, I’m a Fjord horse and I’m 33. I’m near the bottom of the herd but that suits me as I’m looking for a quiet life.
Polly
I was living here when this new lot arrived. I’m a small Shetland pony, I’m head of light entertainment. I certainly gave them a run for their money. I can get away with a lot by being small and practicing stealth moves.
Florence
I’m a small Caspian coming from a desert ancestry, and I think very differently to these Fjords who live in freezing temperatures in their native lands. I’m quite flirty and like fun, I like having lots of friends.
Holly
I’m the largest horse here and I did think of taking on the leadership and sometimes I help Jake out. I have done many different things in my time and I’m very polite around people.
Daisy
I’m a Fjord too. My mum Solveig was herd leader until she died in 2022. I got used to depending on her to sort it all out, then I could just do my own thing, I like that. Recently I’ve been ill and I couldn’t eat very well, that was a big shock to my system…I’m getting better now. I spent many years driving with my mum.
I would urge anyone who feels they, or a friend or family member could benefit from, or enjoy some horse time to get in touch with me via [email protected]
See our current programme of workshops under MORE...
