Equine therapy counselling, training, children's books, parenting resources & personal growth We have been working in the field for over 25 years!
Healing Hooves is an Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy program, based in Alberta, Canada. We provide trauma informed and attachment based counselling services within a natural setting with the option of incorporating horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, ducks and chickens into sessions. We have a team of four (two legged!) counsellors all of whom are professionally accredited in the mental health field with additional training in equine and animal facilitated work and trauma informed approached including EMDR. Our animal partners are highly respected members of our team who do this work because they want to and are allowed time off and retirement when they ask for this too! Our services are reimburseable under most health plans. We also provide parent consulting, professional training, mentoring/ supervision, personal growth workshops, therapeutic stories and resources for professionals and caregivers. Trainings are available in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Scotland and online and can lead to internationally recognised certification. For Professionals, when you work with Healing Hooves you join a community of professionals dedicated to a journey of ongoing growth in partnership with animals and nature. We meet you where you are now, honouring the unique experiences and skills – with people and with animals – you already possess, and we share a ‘map’ for applying and growing your experiences and skills within the Equine and Animal Assisted Services and Wellness field. Our approach is insight based and adaptable and is firmly grounded in both the discernments of science, research and professionalism AND in the wisdom of nature and our animals. This often means slowing down, looking deeper and allowing more space – all of which we have learned to do best in the company of our animals! Sue McIntosh MA CCC, founder of Healing Hooves and lead counsellor, is a licensed coach with Equestrian Canada, a Certified Canadian Counsellor and is certified through Pro-EFW as a practitioner, mentor and trainer in Equine Facilitated Wellness. Sue also has additional training and credentials in Animal Assisted Therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy and Therapeutic riding. Sue has also worked closely with Gordon Neufeld for close to 20 years and is certified by the Neufeld Institute as a practitioner and facilitator.
11/06/2025
Curious about how horses think, feel and learn? Why they do what they do? This mini course is designed to help you create safer, more effective equine environments — for yourself, your clients, and your horse - grounded in human and equine neuroscience!
Don’t miss out — register now and secure your spot at the early bird rate!
In session one you will explore the human and equine nervous systems. This includes both the theory and practical applications of taking up a relationship with the wisdom in your own body and listening to that of the horse.
In session two you will learn all about how human and equine brains are both similar and different. This applies to how we experience the world through the senses, how we learn, how we process information, think and feel.
In session three you will explore how to integrate the above towards creating safer and more effective equine environments and relationships, along with a deeper awareness of equine body language and communication.
Throughout all three sessions you will be invited to apply all of the above to your context with horses, be it Equine Assisted Services, therapeutic riding, competitive rider and for anyone simply interested in knowing more!
Sessions will be interactive and reflective with time to ask questions and optional exercises to practice with your own horses in between sessions
This workshop is open to everyone with no pre requisites or experience required
Date: November 19, November 26 and December 3 from 7-9pm GMT/ noon - 2pm MST/ 2-4pm EST (sessions will be recorded in case you can't attend live)
Location: Online with zoom links sent out once you have registered and paid
Early bird rate: $50/ session or $100 for all three. Register and pay by November 5
Regular rate (if paid after Nov 5 and if space still available): $75/ session or $150 for all three
This workshop is limited to 25 participants and is almost full!
10/31/2025
Fun training days in Conan Bridge, Scotland! We covered a nice balance of equine neuroscience and equine assisted services - with Bruce being the star!
Thank you Lynne for sharing your space again and to our four legged team of Bruce, Finn and Belle!
If you missed us this time we'll be back in Scotland in March and have several online trainings starting soon. More info here: https://healinghooves.ca/workshops-and-resources/
10/25/2025
Horses in today!
Beautiful sunshine and the Cairngorms in the background!
10/25/2025
My favourite part of the world!
and I were lucky enough to spend the day yesterday in and around Achiltibui with a very special visit to the Summer Isle, Tanera Mòr where some amazing work is taking place - with Icelandic horses!
I think we found Disa's half sister!
Thankyou Meg for the warm welcome and wonderful day - I'm excited to see you and the ponies again in the spring!
10/22/2025
Explore the Fascinating Realm of Equine Neuroscience
• Are you seeking a deeper understanding and connection with your equine partner?
• Would you like to better understand equine communication and needs?
• Do you aspire to create environments that honor the equine as a sentient being, fostering mutually beneficial human-horse relationships and partnerships?
Join us for our upcoming live Zoom mini-series, where we will delve into the world of equine neuroscience and its practical applications
In Session One, we will examine the human and equine nervous systems, exploring both theoretical foundations and practical strategies for cultivating a deeper connection with your own body and listening to that of the horse.
Session Two will focus on the similarities and differences between human and equine brains, shedding light on how we each perceive the world through our senses, learn, process information, think, and feel.
In Session Three, we will integrate the knowledge gained in the previous sessions to support the creation of safer and more effective equine environments and relationships, while developing a deeper understanding of equine body language and communication.
Throughout all three sessions you will be invited to apply all of the above to your context with horses including Equine Assisted Services. Sessions will be interactive and reflective with time to ask questions and optional exercises to practice with your own horses in between sessions
This workshop is open to everyone with no pre requisites or experience required
Logistics
Date: November 19, November 26 and December 3 from noon - 2pm MST/ 7-9pm GMT
Location: Online with zoom links sent out once you have registered and paid
Early bird rate:$50/ session or $100 for all three. Register and pay by November 5
Regular rate: $75/ session or $150 for all three
This workshop is limited to 25 participants so likely to fill quickly
Option to apply part of your registration fee to ongoing online training
Explore professional training and resources at Healing Hooves in Canada, the UK, and online. Learn about equine and animal assisted therapy certification, registration details, schedules, and more to enhance your healing journey.
10/03/2025
Here’s communication and reciprocity in action!
I love how these guys check in with each other and adjust when they are mutually grooming. A great example of caring for another in the way that they need and ask for it, as well as asking for what you need!
09/18/2025
I’m so excited to share that Madison is joining our team at Healing Hooves!
✨ New Offering ✨
I’m thrilled to share that I will now be offering equine-facilitated therapy sessions with the amazing herd at Healing Hooves Animal Assisted Therapy, just 5 minutes north of Cremona 🐴
This unique approach combines the presence of horses with a safe, supportive counselling space for growth and healing.
🗓️ Current availability on select Wednesday mornings and Sunday afternoons.
If you’re curious whether equine therapy may be the right fit for you, I invite you to reach out directly or book a consultation through my booking link.
09/17/2025
Welcome back Teddy!
I missed that sassy little head toss! 💜💕
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Healing Hooves Animal Assisted Therapy:
Healing Hooves is an Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy program, and Professional Training centre, based on a tranquil farm in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada.
We offer counselling, parenting support, equine therapy, children's stories and professional training services and resources to families, parents, children, teens and professionals. Our counsellors and trainers are trained in counselling, social work, equine therapy, animal assisted therapy (AAT), Equine Facilitated Wellness (EFW), attachment, developmental psychology and trauma therapy, including EMDR. We are associated with a wide range of professional bodies including EFW-Canada, the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), the Neufeld Institute, CanTRA and PATH.
Our Professional Training Workshops explore a wide range of approaches to working in the Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy fields and meet all of the training requirements of Equine Facilitated Wellness Canada.
Our Parenting Support sessions and resources are grounded in the approach taught by Dr. Gordon Neufeld of the Neufeld Institute.
Our Counselling Services specialise in working with people with struggles in the areas of anxiety, depression, trauma, parent child conflict, ADHD, attachment struggles and disorders, self esteem struggles, stress, behavioural problems and more.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
We offer nationally recognised training in equine facilitated wellness and animal assisted therapy leading to national certification with Equine Facilitated Wellness-Canada. Check out our Events Page for current training dates and details.
THERAPEUTIC CHILDREN’S STORIES AND OTHER RESOURCES
We have published a number of therapeutic stories for children aged five to twelve. Grounded in attachment theory and developmental science, each story covers a different therapeutic theme including emotional expression, resilience, recovery from loss, trauma, forgiveness, and relationship conflict. They are also simply fun, engaging and amusing stories holding universal applicability to all children and their parents. Check out our store for the books available for purchase and our posts for free downloads of selected titles.
OUR COUNSELLING APPROACH
The counselling approach followed at Healing Hooves is firmly grounded in attachment theory, developmental psychology and neuroscience; an insight approach, rather than a behavioural approach. Specifically, it is grounded in the approach developed and taught by Dr. Gordon Neufeld with whom all Healing Hooves counsellors and trainers have extensive training. As such the focus is upon the relationship between a client and the key positive adults in his/her life, upon the client’s longer term development, and upon the needs and emotions underlying their behavior.
This is approached through facilitating a process and creating an environment within which the client develops a positive relationship with the horses and other animals at Healing Hooves. This is then used as a bridge to develop a positive relationship with the counsellor, and with other key healthy caretaking adults in the client’s life. The interactions and interventions facilitated with and through the therapy animals, and all other therapeutic approaches and interventions followed by Healing Hooves Counsellors, are grounded in her understanding of both child development and attachment, and the interplay between these two aspects.
This includes consideration of attachment depth, security and health; the health and maturity level of the developmental processes of emergence, adaptation and integration; the level of emotional defenses and the impact of this upon both attachment and the developmental processes; and the interplay between all of the above and a child’s ability to feel and express emotions (including frustration and alarm) in a healthy and vulnerable manner.
Funding is often available for our services through Children’s Services (CS), Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and through private health insurance.
Sue McIntosh, MA, CCC the founder and lead counsellor at Healing Hooves is triple certified with EFW Canada as a trainer, mentor and practitioner and is certified with the Neufeld Institute as a practitioner, facilitator and parent consultant.
