Horses For Hope

Our Therapeutic Programs are suitable for individuals and groups 10 years and older. They can address the needs of children, adolescents or adults who have:

• experienced or are experiencing abuse including family violence
• experienced or are experiencing family or relationship breakdown
• survived a natural disaster such as bushfire, flood or drought
• survived a serious accident
• returned from service in a peace keeping or war zone
• been involved in prison release programs, are about to be released from prison, or are on Juvenile Justice Orders
• conduct, developmental or learning difficulties or are at risk of developing serious emotional disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorders [i.e. Attention Deficit Disorder and Aspergers Syndrome] or Anxiety Disorders [i.e. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Post Traumatic Distress Disorder]

Horses for Hope is an equine-assisted and facilitated learning and therapy program. It is a best practice program utilising both equine and mental health/family therapy specialists who are in constant contact with participants and collaborate fully to provide a safe, enjoyable and potentially life changing experience.

Equine-facilitated learning and therapy provides an opportunity for people to become actively and consciously engaged in the development of their behavioural and social skills. "At-risk" young people and others with developmental or behavioural dysfunction or who have been emotionally traumatised often have difficulty identifying with and finding their place in society – the life and social skills, self-concept, self-efficacy, resilience, and cognitive, behavioral and emotional regulation, accumulated during participation in an equine-facilitated program will transmit into the lives of these people and assist them in finding their place in society and becoming effective, functional adults.

Culture Change Training and Development Programs

All programs aim to build trust and respect among people who need to work together. Programs will intellectually and emotionally challenge participants to use their communicative and reasoning skills to solve challenges head-on.

Programs are designed to meet an organisations specific need and may include one or all of the following topics:

• Team Building
• Change Management
• Leading with Strength & Integrity

Groups we have trained include school students, teachers, families, family and children’s services workers, government workers and people from the business and corporate sectors.

Why a Horse

Horses are social creatures exhibiting great beauty, power and grace. The horse has the ability to mirror what humans are experiencing and feeling. They are innately able to detect anger, aggression, hostility, anxiety, or calmness and kindness. In order to establish a positive relationship with a horse, the individual must learn to regulate internal feelings and external behaviours. Their accepting nature and their ability to give immediate, objective, non-verbal feedback combine to create an ideal experiential learning environment.

Horses for Hope can assist individuals, families, and groups in developing the following life skills:

"When I look back, I can see how horse after horse carried me away from
cruelty and towards kindness and understanding" Monty Roberts

Horse Boarding and Work in the Program

Horse boarding at our facility helps to support our therapeutic programs as well as well as providing your horse with a retraining opportunity where they need a new start. Depending on the circumstances of the horse and the horse owner there is a sliding scale of rates for Horse Boarding and Work in the Program. The minimum fee includes the cost of worming and hoof care. Fees and charges are considered on a case by case basis. Additionally, because horse owners allow Horses for Hope to utilise their horse in our program, part of your boarding fee may be considered a charitable donation!