a qualified Equine Assisted Practitioner. I have been a primary school teacher for the majority of my working life. I graduated with a Bachelor of Special Needs and majors in Art and Music.

I grew up with guineas pigs, dogs and horses, and I am well aware of all the lessons they taught me and the role they played in my childhood. I wanted my children to have the same experiences. So my husband Paul and I bought 20 acres and began creating our home environment. We filled it with guinea pigs, dogs, and then one horse, which soon grew to two, then three, then five! Meanwhile, the two guineas had babies. We introduced a few more and now we have settled on six, including two recent ‘had to have’ boys. We also have a cat, which has been such a support for my daughters. As my working life got harder and the children grew, I began to suffer from depression. I’d go to the horses for some private quiet time, and I gave myself permission to cry. I noticed that during my girls’ teenage years, they would also seek out the horses to talk to, and to cry and generally unload. I’d go out later and find them sitting on a horse, with their arms around his neck, and the horse just standing still, not trying to eat or be with the others. Or I might find my girls curled around a guinea pig on their beds. Animals are their go-to when they feel fragile. Several years later, I was on Facebook and an ad for horse therapy training with the Equine Psychotherapy Institute (equinepsychotherapy.net.au) popped up. I remember reading it and feeling like this was meant to be. It was everything my family had been living with, while not knowing what it was. However, I was sceptical about the training. I looked for fanciful claims but instead all I found was incredible support and like-minded people. I was surrounded by proof that this ‘horse stuff’ was real. So I began a course with trainer Louise Atkinson, which involved hours of being in-session, learning and doing, reflecting and listening. Still, when it was my turn to have a private session with Louise and her horses, I whispered to the others ‘she won’t break me down’. But the session she chose for me was nothing short of incredible. I remembered childhood events that had been buried for years, as the old grey horse breathed me in, looked at me and knew things I’d forgotten. She mirrored everything I was carrying, and I saw the truth. I’m passionate about working with horses and guiding people through the hard bits in life. Whatever people take from a session, it is always with acceptance, peace and something they can apply to their real life and relationships. I’d love to help you or your child discover the power of animal and equine therapy too.