Sweet As- Equine Assisted Therapy

10/03/2026

Some days at the paddock remind me exactly why I love doing this so much. 🐴

Yesterday Echo and Whinny both had their feet trimmed, which is always a good reminder of how important the little care jobs are that keep our horses happy and healthy. After that, it was time for some less glamorous paddock work – spraying the blackberry that always seems determined to take over if you let it!

But one of my favourite parts of today was simply being with the horses.

Echo decided she was going to make catching her a bit of a game today. Anyone who knows her will understand that sometimes she likes to keep me on my toes! The trick with Echo is keeping my energy low, staying patient, and not turning it into a chase. Horses read our energy so clearly.

The lovely part was Whinny. Instead of wandering off, she quietly walked with me around the paddock while I tried to catch Echo – almost like she was helping. Eventually Echo decided it was time, and we got there in the end.

Moments like that remind me how special these horses are and why I love sharing them with people. Watching others connect with them, meet them, and spend time in the paddock is something that means a lot to me.

08/03/2026

🐴 A “Horse Thought of the Day”

Something horses teach us:

They don’t pretend to be anything they’re not.

If they’re curious, they come closer.
If they’re unsure, they step back.
If they trust you, they stand beside you.

There’s something really honest about that.

Sometimes I think we could learn a lot from horses about being genuine. ✨

06/03/2026

MEET AND GREET DAY

Echo and Whinny enjoying their breakfast before they meet some amazing ladies.

If you are interested in meet the girls and seeing what we do here send me a pm.

First available space is 12.30 today

02/03/2026

This tree is so beautiful 😍

26/02/2026

With all the new follows recently, I’d love to open the gate and let you come meet the herd 🐴

I’m thinking short 15-minute one-on-one meet & greet bookings, so you can:
✨ Meet Echo and Whinny
✨ Ask questions about ACC or private sessions
✨ See what happens here
✨ Get a feel for the space

Would you book a time slot if I offered this?

Let me know below 👇

25/02/2026

That feeling never gets old 🤍

Walking into the paddock and seeing Echo lift her head… then choose to walk over and wait for me. Not because she has to because she wants to.

There’s something so grounding about that moment. The quiet. The trust. The connection without words.

Horses don’t fake connection. They don’t show up unless they feel safe. So when Echo comes up and stands there, waiting patiently, it reminds me why I do this work. It’s built on relationship. On consistency. On being present.

Sometimes the smallest moments are actually the biggest ones.

Grateful for this girl every single day 🐴💛

24/02/2026

23/02/2026

People often ask how I came up with the name Sweet As Equine Assisted Therapy.

“Sweet As” was actually the name of my very first horse here in New Zealand.

When I bought her, I was told she was 18 years old. Later, after checking her brands, I discovered she was actually 28. And honestly? That just made me love her even more.

Her full name was Sweet As — Sweety for short.

She was stubborn.
She had a mind of her own.
She was everything I ever wanted in a horse.

She was absolutely beautiful, but more than that — she had a heart of gold.

She taught me about patience.
She taught me about boundaries.
She taught me that connection isn’t about control — it’s about respect.

I think about her every single day.

So when it came time to name my business, there was never really a question.

Sweet As isn’t just a name… it’s a legacy. It’s the foundation of everything I do.

And in many ways, this work exists because of her 🤍

20/02/2026

“Healing Isn’t Always Gentle”

Unpopular opinion:

Healing isn’t always soft music and deep breaths.

Sometimes it’s a horse walking away from you
because your boundaries are unclear.

Sometimes it’s 500kgs of honesty standing in front of you.

The paddock doesn’t lie.

And that’s why it changes people.

19/02/2026

Today’s session brought something truly special 🤍🕊️

While we were working quietly in the paddock, two doves appeared and stayed with us for almost 40 minutes. They sat nearby, completely calm, as if they were part of the space we were holding. It felt grounding, peaceful, and deeply symbolic.

Doves are often seen as messengers of peace, healing, and hope. Across many cultures they represent:
✨ Calm after emotional storms
✨ New beginnings
✨ Safety and reassurance
✨ Spiritual support and guidance
✨ Connection and harmony

For the client, it may symbolise a period of healing unfolding — a reminder that softness and peace are possible, even after trauma or big feelings. Sometimes when we are doing deep emotional work, nature responds in quiet, powerful ways. The presence of the doves may reflect the nervous system settling, trust building, and safety being established.

For me as the practitioner, it felt like affirmation — a reminder to slow down, trust the process, and hold space gently. Moments like this remind me why I do this work. When we regulate ourselves, the animals and environment often mirror that calm back to us.

In equine-assisted therapy, we often talk about how animals respond to emotional energy. Today, it wasn’t just the horses — it was the birds too.

Whether you see doves as spiritual messengers or simply as symbols of peace, their presence felt meaningful. And sometimes, that meaning is exactly what someone needs in that moment.

Nature has a beautiful way of showing up when we’re ready 🤍🕊️

17/02/2026

🌿 ACC Sensitive Claims Support Available 🌿

Sweet As Equine Therapy is registered with Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) as a Sensitive Claims provider.

This means clients who have experienced sexual harm may be eligible for funded support through ACC.

At Sweet As Equine Therapy, sessions are delivered in a calm, private paddock environment where clients can work at their own pace alongside horses. Equine-assisted therapy can support trauma recovery by helping with:

🐴 Emotional awareness and regulation
🐴 Rebuilding trust and safe connection
🐴 Strengthening boundaries and confidence
🐴 Nervous system regulation and grounding

No horse experience is required.

If you would like to learn more about ACC Sensitive Claims and whether you may be eligible for funded support, please feel free to get in touch for a confidential discussion.

16/02/2026

🐴✨ When the Horses Run the Schedule… ✨🐴

Last week Echo decided she needed a bit of extra attention and developed a foot abscess. After a few sore days, it finally blew out on Sunday (what a relief!).

And today… Whinny thought she’d join the party with an eye abscess 🙈

Out comes the best vet ever (honestly so grateful!), and once again we’re reminded that working with animals means expecting the unexpected.

I’m starting to think the horses planned it so they could take turns getting pampered and fussed over 😂

On a serious note though, this is the reality behind equine therapy – there’s always care happening behind the scenes to keep our four-legged therapists healthy, happy, and ready to support our clients. Their wellbeing always comes first. 💛

Send some healing vibes to Echo and Whinny tonight! 🐎✨