Animal Instincts Australia

03/04/2026

🌾 EASTER BREAK NOTICE 🌾

Just a quick reminder that there will be no sessions running this weekend across Animal Instincts Australia.

With Easter Monday (public holiday), we’ll also be closed on Monday.

👉 All programs resume Tuesday

We hope everyone enjoys a well-earned break over Easter — time to reset, recharge, and spend time with your people 🐣🌿

Thanks as always for your ongoing support 💛

29/03/2026

25/03/2026

Reminder that there are no sessions tomorrow Friday 27th due to the Toowoomba Show public holiday 🎡

Our team is taking a well-earned breather — we’ll be back into it soon.

Enjoy the day and the show if you’re heading along!

21/03/2026

At Animal Instincts Australia, we see every day that growth doesn’t always happen in an office or across a desk — sometimes it happens in a paddock, beside a horse, through doing, feeling, trying again, and learning to regulate in real time.

And the research is catching up.

One randomised controlled trial looking at an 11-week equine facilitated learning program for young people found improvements in personal responsibility, decision making, goal-directed behaviour, self-awareness and self-management; and importantly, better attendance was linked to more positive behaviour and less negative behaviour over time

The study also highlighted that programs are especially effective when they:

~ build social and emotional skills
~ use an interactive, hands-on style
~ create opportunities for participation, self-direction and connection

That’s exactly why our disability and mental health programs are built the way they are.

Through horses, dogs, livestock, land-based learning and real-world experiences, we help participants practise:

~ emotional regulation
~ communication
~ confidence
~ boundaries
~ responsibility
~ connection with others

This work is not about “fixing” people.
It’s about creating safe, grounded opportunities for growth — and giving young people and participants the chance to build skills that carry over into everyday life.

Research referenced: Pendry et al. (2014), Journal of Primary Prevention — randomised controlled trial of equine facilitated learning and child social competence.

12/03/2026

Friday funny 😂
Those horses and carriages on the property are starting to look like a more reliable mode of transport right now 🤔

The price of diesel now you’d be better off with a horse

10/03/2026

10/03/2026

What does the research say about equine-assisted learning for young people with anxiety?

A recent study of 166 young people aged 8–18 found that a short 5-day equine-assisted learning program led to significant improvements in:

🐴 calmness
🐴 communication
🐴 assertiveness
🐴 empathy
🐴 focus
🐴 planning
🐴 responsibility
🐴 engagement in learning

The young people in the study were referred due to anxiety, and after just 5 x 2-hour sessions of groundwork-based horsemanship, referrers reported strong improvement across all eight areas.

One of the biggest findings?
Young people became calmer, more engaged, and better able to manage themselves socially and emotionally.

The research also suggested that early adolescence (around 11–14 years) may be a particularly important window for this kind of intervention.

Why might this work?

Because horses don’t respond to words alone. They respond to body language, energy, focus, boundaries and regulation. That means young people get immediate, honest feedback in the moment — and they learn through doing, not just talking.

For many young people, especially those who struggle in traditional settings, this kind of hands-on, outdoor, relationship-based learning can be a game changer.

At Animal Instincts Australia, this is exactly why we do what we do.
Not because horses “fix” people — but because they help create the conditions where calmness, confidence, connection and growth can happen.

03/03/2026

🐎 LifeFlight Easter Charity Weekend 🐑
Join us for a memorable Easter weekend filled with adventure, entertainment, and community spirit—all in support of critical work.

🌿 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
🐴 BYO Horse Trail Ride & Cattle Muster
Saddle up for a traditional outback experience across scenic trails, culminating in a real cattle muster.

🥾 Charity Trail Hike (Non-Riders Welcome!)
Explore the same beautiful trail on foot this Good Friday, April 3, while contributing to a great cause.

🎉Charity Event - Auction & Entertainment Evening
🗓 Friday, April 3– from 3pm
Working sheep dog demo & sheep shearing
3-Course Dinner
Live music and bush poetry around the fire
Exciting Auction with fantastic items (EFTPOS available)

🎟 BOOKINGS NOW OPEN > https://www.facebook.com/events/1544118300034440

Let’s ride, hike, and dine to support the heroes of LifeFlight. Your support helps save lives every day across Queensland!

22/02/2026

A fascinating peer-reviewed study has explored the potential of bovine-assisted therapy — where gentle steers engage in therapeutic interaction with people.

Researchers found that these cows not only enjoyed human contact but also showed strong preferences in engagement with women, and many participants reported positive emotional experiences during sessions.

This work expands our understanding of how farm animals, including cattle, may play a role in animal-assisted services that benefit both humans and the animals involved.

Key takeaways:
• Cattle showed comfort and active engagement with humans during 45-minute interaction sessions.
• Women tended to interact more and report stronger attachment behaviors with the steers than men.
• The findings open doors for further research into diverse species in therapeutic settings — beyond typical companion animals like dogs or horses.

Read the full open-access study: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2024.0016