Horses helping children with mental health issues
What is Equine-Assisted Therapy?
In Equine-Assisted Therapy, children and young adults interact with horses through guided activities which help them develop better social, emotional and behavioural skills.
In Equine-Assisted Therapy, the horse is the therapist.
Horses are sensitive and intuitive animals, who are highly attuned to their surroundings, and they notice and reflect our feelings. This soft acknowledgement and acceptance can have a powerful healing effect.
Many people are afraid of horses because they are such large powerful animals. Learning that horses are actually gentle creatures and then building a relationship with them can help develop trust, self-efficacy and self-esteem.
Why a Horse?
Horses are sensitive and intuitive, they reflect our feelings, take us as we are and are without judgement.
Horses can adapt to our emotional state, which they can feel with their powerful senses. Horses communicate with each other through body language, and they are experts at reading ours too. They can hear our heartbeat and breathing. They can smell our fear through our hormones. They can see almost all the way around themselves, so they miss nothing that is happening
Horses are prey animals, not predators, so their behaviour is not aggressive. They have no claws, no sharp teeth (e.g. canines), and are non-adversarial.
Who can Horses help?
Children and Young Adults with emotional and mental health issues such as:
- AUTISM/ASPERGERS
- ADHD
- DEPRESSION and ANXIETY
- TRAUMA, Family breakdowns, Car accidents, Major health issues, etc.
Our Staff
Michelle
Michelle is a qualified equine-assisted therapist and has set up Whispering Hope Equine-Assisted Therapy Ltd. She is a British Horse Society-qualified riding instructor and has taught hundreds of children to ride. Michelle is also a trained teacher who owned and ran a preschool for 21 years.
Toitoi
Our true confidence builder. Toi is a 15hh 21-year-old station-bred gelding. He loves being in the sea and is the best riding lesson horse we’ve ever owned. Toi has the most unusual pale brown eyes that lead you into his beautiful soul.
Fern
Our big black beauty. Fern is a 12-year-old 16.1hh Holsteiner breed who loves the smell of coffee. She should be in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most yawns a horse can do in your face! She is an outstanding therapy horse.
Crackerjack
Born on the 5th of November, hence the name! He is now 28 years old, and for many years was my daughter’s Pony Club and competition pony. Cracker is 13.2hh Section C purebred Welsh pony. He loves to lie down with children and ADORES showering them with kisses!
Calamity Jane
Great name, great pony. She is a 9-year-old 13hh liver chestnut Section B purebred Welsh pony with the prettiest face and kindest nature. Clammie, as she is known, has an unbelievable connection to people.
Contact Us
Please email us using the form below. Include information such as the problem your child or young adult is dealing with and their age.
We are based in Whitford, Auckland.
Thank you for your response. ✨
Whispering Hope Ltd 