Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Queensland

23/12/2025

Love this .. so true

We posted this earlier in the year, and people seemed to gain a lot from it.
So incase you need a reminder of why we love working with horses, please read on ...

How horses show up for humans 🐴
In Equine Assisted Therapy we talk a lot about how horses respond to human emotions.

There is a whole science behind this.

Horses are highly attuned to their environment and surroundings, this includes the emotional state of humans which enter their space or herd.

They are sensitive to a human’s body language and physiology, including posture, breathing patterns and heart rate.

It’s been proven that horses can distinguish between positive and negative facial expressions – and can even remember the emotional expressions of a person they have encountered.

Horses also respond to vocal cues. Who remembers telling their pony to ‘trot on’ and they did without any other cues?

Beyond this, horses can also differentiate between voices expressing different emotions.

Many fascinating scientific studies have taken place across the world on the human–horse interaction.
Researchers are encouraging more studies to take place, specifically on gaining further understanding about the human–animal partnership and evaluating its effects on human health outcomes.

An extract from a scientific article: Emotional Transfer in Human–Horse Interaction: New Perspectives on Equine Assisted Interventions, noted the following:

“Detecting emotions of other individuals and developing the capacity to fine-tune its (a horse’s) own emotional state accordingly with that of others, may have fostered the success of equine assisted interventions, bringing positive effects on both sides. From the body-to-body contact (the most immediate aspect of interaction) up to the emotional transfer (the sophisticated process of connecting individuals through emotions), horses and humans became able to coordinate physiological activities through bonding."

When people attend an equine-assisted therapy session for the first time, it can be quite a profound experience when a horse ‘tunes’ into them 💛.

A real connection and deeper understanding of your emotional state can take place in the presence of a horse, as they adjust their behaviour and responses to reflect your own.

17/12/2025

This is our beautiful silver he is holding space and is our partner in supporting some of the most vulnerable to smile, regulate, communicate and sometimes breathe better. We could never do this amazing work without our amazing supports and agencies such as Animal Therapies Ltd thank you, for supporting those who cant get the funding to do this amazing work

ATL loves to receive messages like these... Meet Bella – a young lady with a big heart and even bigger dreams. Thanks to the incredible support from Animal Therapies Ltd, Bella has been able to access Equine Assisted Therapy – something that would have been out of reach without their help.

This isn’t just about time with horses. It’s about building capacity and creating lasting change:
✨ Strengthening communication skills
✨ Learning emotional regulation
✨ Growing confidence and resilience
✨ Developing problem-solving and decision-making skills
✨ Building trust and healthy relationships
✨ Enhancing self-awareness and mindfulness

Every session helps Bella take the reins of her own life, finding her stride toward independence and wellbeing. And it’s all possible because of the generosity of those who believe in making equine-assisted therapy accessible for everyone.

Thank you, Animal Therapies Ltd, for changing lives – one hoofbeat at a time.

14/12/2025

We convey our heartfelt sympathies to all impacted by the Bondi incident. The repercussions are extensive, and we stand united in peace and support.

10/12/2025

Teddy Artwork by a talent young person

07/12/2025

We are very excited our newest team member has graduated puppy school Congratulations Teddy..

25/11/2025

20/11/2025

As a trained EATA professional this information for all is a great resource.

18/11/2025

13/11/2025

𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁

Regina, a single mum of three children under 10, asked ATL for help, when no-one else could. Life had become unbearable, until she reached out for support.

ATL funded equine-assisted therapy sessions that gave her the support she needed.

You can help us to assist more like Regina by making a donation. Thank you.

To donate: https://donate.animaltherapies.org.au/go

08/11/2025

In the stillness of a moment, a cuppa can be a soothing balm, calming your thoughts and guiding you back to the beauty of the present.

21/10/2025

This is so true...

Let’s be real — personally, horses might be the most emotionally healing creatures we’ve ever known , I know mine are 🩷🙏

But professionally?
They are not the therapist.

They are the co-facilitator.
The boundary bringer.
The soft exhale
The truth without spoken language.

But they are not here to absorb your client’s emotional load hour upon hour.
Not the emotional sponge.
Not the silent fixer.
Not the unpaid mental health professional.

🐴 We hold the container.
✋🏽 We regulate the space.
❤️ We ensure consent — for horses and humans.

This work is powerful — its feels like its almost magic.
It’s trauma-informed. Consent-led. Co-regulated. Boundaried. Ethical.
And deeply relational.

Let’s do it right.

07/10/2025

It is with much sadness we say good bye to Benny who has been the most amazing part of our therapy team.