Equus Ferus

Our aim at Equus Ferus is to promote emotional agility, independent living and improved life opportunities by utilizing equine relationships as a platform for change. Our work is based on the provision of therapeutic sessions or workshops for individuals and groups experiencing a range of mental health issues and other forms of social disadvantage. Horses are highly sensitive and intuitive creatures and will respond to emotional issues that we, as humans, may be unconscious of or can find difficult to acknowledge in ourselves. Their gift is to act as the perfect ‘mirror’ to our emotions and bring them to light in a non-judgemental way. Using horses as partners in a therapeutic setting is a fast emerging and innovative area of work in the field of Animal Assisted Therapy with a growing body of research to support its benefits. This type of experiential learning can be especially effective with individuals who find it hard to engage well with ‘talking’ therapies. It provides an in-the-moment learning experience, creating new ways of thinking and behaving that are the building blocks to lasting change. This intrinsic learning supports individuals to manage current and future challenges with a greater ability to manage their own emotional fitness. Our aim is to support people experiencing mental health issues such as Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, drug & alcohol misuse, survivors of mental & physical abuse, adults and children experiencing Autism, Asbergers Syndrome, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia as well as recovering Offenders, those experiencing low self-esteem or self-confidence and others forms of social disadvantage. We work with both private clients and individuals or groups referred through other service providers. We also have a team of helpers and volunteers to support us in our work.