The Next Steps Forward

02/11/2025

✨ Next 2 Weeks Availability ✨
Charing, Kent

TUESDAYS

• 10:00–12:00 🌟 Alpaca walking & feeding sessions (adults & children)

• 2:00–3:00pm 🌟 1:1 Equine Therapy (adults or children)

• 3:00–4:00pm 🌟 1:1 Equine Therapy (adults or children)

WEDNESDAYS

• AM/PM 🌟 Alpaca walking & feeding (adults & children)

• 10:00–11:00am🌟 1:1 Equine Therapy (adults or children)

• 11:00–12:30pm 🌟 Adult Group Equine Therapy

THURSDAYS

• 10:00–12:00 🌟 Alpaca walking & feeding sessions (adults & children)

• 2:00–3:00pm 🌟 1:1 Equine Therapy (adults or children)

SATURDAYS

• 10:00–12:00 🌟 Children’s Equine Therapy & Animal Care Workshop

• 1:30–3:00pm🌟 Adult Group Equine Therapy Workshop

🦙🐴 Healing and nature-based sessions supporting confidence, emotional regulation and wellbeing.
Trauma-informed • Gentle pace • Connection with animals & land

📩 To book / enquire:
sonia@thenextstepsforward.com
📞 07398 238708

28/10/2025

🎃🐴 Halloween Fun at The Next Steps Forward! 🐴🎃

What a fantastic week we had celebrating our Halloween Workshops and Own a Pony Day! 👻🦙🍂

Although the weather and a few pesky bugs! got in the way of a couple of events, the days we did run were full of smiles, laughter, and learning. The children had an amazing time:
✨ Trekking with our cheeky alpacas
✨ Carving spooky (and sometimes silly!) pumpkins
✨ Riding and caring for their very own ponies
✨ Learning all about the animals here on the farm

It was such a joy to see everyone getting stuck in, making memories, connecting with the animals and making new friends 💙

A big thank you to all the families who joined us and made it such a special week. We’re already looking forward to our next adventures together! 🌾🐴

15/10/2025

🌿 A proud moment to share…

My former therapy student came to us after struggling to attend school. She spent a couple of days a week with us for over a year, gently rebuilding her confidence and self-esteem through time with the horses and our team. Over time, her progress was incredible, she even went on to help at our kids’ camp, showing such care and maturity. 💫

That experience helped her step forward into new opportunities, shaping her college and career path in childcare. She recently sent me this message, and it truly touched my heart:

💌
“Hey Sonia, I was thinking of you and just wanted to thank you for kick-starting my career in childcare. Working with you inspired me to pursue further education and I’ve been so grateful lately because I’m remembering every single time someone said I wouldn’t be able to do it knowing I am, and I do think I owe some of it to you. You’re such an amazing woman with a lovely family and I can’t wait to get my diploma and hopefully catch up with you when I’m on the road. Thank you so much, and I hope you’re doing amazing in your house. I’m so happy you’ve finally got the opportunities you deserve for yourself and your career, you worked so hard for all of it. I hope the kids are okay, I do miss you all. Have a great evening ❣️”

A huge thank you to my amazing team at the time Izzy, James Parker Stacey West, for the love, consistency, and belief you poured into her journey. 🌸

✨ Watching young people grow in confidence and step into their futures is exactly why I do this work.

03/10/2025

✨🐴 What’s Happening with The Next Steps Forward and Heath View Farm This October? 🎃👻

We’ve got an exciting line-up of fun for children this half-term! 🌟

🎃 Halloween at the Farm (21st–23rd October)
10am–1pm – £35 per child
• Pumpkin carving
• Pony rides
• Equine workshops
• Arts & crafts
• Spooky Halloween hunt!

🐴 Own a Pony Half Day (24th & 25th October)
10am–1pm – £55
Spend the morning grooming, caring for, and riding your very own pony – plus Halloween fun activities included!

✨ And all year round…
Our Own a Pony Experience is available weekdays & weekends:
• Half Day (10am–2pm) – £55
• Full Day (10am–4pm) – £70
(Riding lesson included in every booking!)

🌿 Equine Therapy
We continue to offer 1:1 equine therapy sessions and weekend workshops.
Please enquire for more information, available dates, and to book your space.

📍 Charing, Kent
📞 07398 238708
✉️ sonia@thenextstepsforward.com

⚡ Limited spaces – book early to avoid disappointment!
Costumes welcome for our Halloween sessions 🎃👒🐴

⸻

⚠️ Polite Notice
Please note that due to the size of our ponies, there are weight and height restrictions for riding lessons. This is to ensure the welfare and comfort of the ponies, and we kindly ask for your understanding.

🌿 The Own a Pony Experience can still go ahead and includes grooming, feeding, stable care, and fun equine activities — however, in some cases riding may not be possible.

Thank you for your kindness and respect for our ponies 🐴💚

03/09/2025

🌿 Stepping Into a New Season Together 🌿

As summer comes to a close, I’m so grateful for all the incredible workshops and sessions we’ve shared — each one has been a chance for growth, connection, and healing. 💙

✨ Adult Sessions have opened space for deep exploration around:
• Self-harm and recovery
• Eating disorders
• Attachment and separation
• Addiction and aftercare
• Boundaries: setting them, keeping them, and understanding control
• Learning new skills with positive reinforcement

✨ Young People’s Sessions focus on:
• Behaviour regulation
• Building confidence
• Setting targets and routines
• Developing new skills for everyday life

🌸 What’s New?
A Saturday Morning Group is starting on 13th September, 10am–12pm. This is a safe, supportive space to grow and heal together.

We also have new 1:1 sessions, group therapies, and upcoming workshops designed to meet you right where you are.

If you’d like more info or to join us, message me — I’d love to welcome you. 💫

22/08/2025

🌿 July was for horses, healing, and home ✨

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

21/08/2025

✨🐴 What’s Coming Up at The Next Steps Forward this September ✨

We’ve got a beautiful range of retreats, groups, and workshops designed to bring healing, connection, and growth through horses, nature, and community:

🌿 Weekend Equine Therapy Retreats (with tipi sleepovers)
• For Young People (£180pp)
• For Adults (£220pp)
• For Families (£300 for 1 adult + 1 child, £80 per extra child)

🌿 Family Equine Therapy Day Retreats
Reconnect with your child away from tech, share memories, and learn new skills.
£140 (1 adult + 1 child), £50 per extra child. Light lunch included.

🌿 In the Company of Horses – Adult Survivors of Trauma Program
Starts 11th September
Weekly 2-hour sessions, Thursdays 10am–12pm. £25 per session.

🌿 Saturday Morning Equine Therapy Group
Weekly 10am–12pm. £25 per person.
Connection with horses & animals | Confidence | Healing Through Connection.

🌿 Equine & Animal Therapy Holiday Workshops
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays | 9am–12pm | Age 8+
£30 per head | Pony rides optional (£12)

💫 Group and individual bookings now being taken for 1:1 therapy sessions on weekdays and weekends.

📍 Charing, Kent
📧 sonia@thenextstepsforward.com
📞 07398 238708

Come and join us for healing, connection, and time in nature 🌿🐴✨

06/08/2025

This Week at The Next Steps Forward 🐴🌿

In our adult sessions, we’ve been exploring trust—in ourselves, in others, and in the gentle presence of the horses. Learning how to set boundaries, release anxiety, and connect deeply has created powerful moments of self-discovery for everyone involved.

Meanwhile, our young people’s workshops have been full of connection and growth. From team building and making new friends, to enjoying peaceful moments with Spirit and Lucky, it’s been a week of calm, laughter, and shared progress.

So proud of the heart and effort everyone brings each day 💙