Equine and Human Connections

Equine and Human Connections Empowering personal growth through equine-assisted therapy. Led by OT Jacqui Self, we support individuals & small groups with 1:1 sessions & workshops.

Based in the Perth Hills near Lake Leschenaultia. NDIS-friendly (self & plan managed). I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in the UK and bring over 30 years of experience supporting individuals and families across the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. My career has taken me through disability services for children and adults, aged care, pain management, and mental health. Over the years, I’ve d

eveloped a deep appreciation for the many ways people adapt, heal, and find meaning through life’s challenges. My own life journey, including the transitions of motherhood, grandmotherhood, and the natural shifts that come with ageing, has shaped my interest in more holistic, body-based approaches to wellbeing. This personal insight led me to explore Equine Assisted Therapy, where I now offer a gentle, nature-based space for people to explore emotions, communication, and self-regulation. I also collaborate with the local Horsepower organisation to provide Equine Therapy for individuals of all ages, offering people the opportunity to connect with horses in a meaningful way, without the need to ride. Alongside my equine work, I’ve completed training in somatic bodywork. I integrate these skills into my practice to help people reconnect with their bodies, develop self-regulation, and build a sense of safety and calm through breath and movement. Special interests

I’m passionate about supporting the health and wellbeing of women aged 60 and over, recognising the emotional, physical, and identity shifts that often accompany this stage of life. I also have extensive experience supporting individuals living with ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue, offering compassionate, steady guidance for those navigating long-term conditions. I’m a registered member of AHPRA. When I’m not working, you’ll find me with my horses, caring for them, training, riding, and enjoying the quiet wisdom they bring to my life.

02/04/2026

Curiosity is such a powerful starting point 🌱

In this video, you’ll notice how the horse gently explores his environment, pausing, observing, and tuning into what’s around him. He’s asking an important question: Is this safe, or is this a threat?

This is a beautiful example of interoceptive awareness in action. Interoception is our ability to notice and make sense of what’s happening inside our bodies, our heart rate, breathing, tension, and those subtle “gut feelings.” Just like the horse, we are constantly taking in information from both our internal and external worlds to decide how to respond.

When we approach our own experiences with curiosity instead of judgment, we create space to better understand our emotions and physical sensations. Are we feeling calm, alert, uneasy? What might our body be trying to tell us?
Horses model this process so naturally. They don’t rush, they explore, they notice, and then they respond.

What would it look like for us to slow down and meet our own internal signals with that same curiosity? 💭

🌐equineandhumanconnections.com.au


Build Real Work Skills... Differently! 🐎✨An equine-inspired work skills programme for ages 14–25, helping young people b...
28/03/2026

Build Real Work Skills... Differently! 🐎✨

An equine-inspired work skills programme for ages 14–25, helping young people build confidence, teamwork, and real-world employability skills through hands-on experience with horses.

👉 Scan the QR Code on the flyer to view more details and book

Or, visit:

🌐 perthhillsoccupationaltherapy.com.au

05/03/2026

Watching this young horse explore something new was such a powerful reminder: growth doesn’t come from pressure — it comes from safety.

When faced with a new experience, apprehension is natural. What makes the difference is the space to investigate in their own time and in their own way. No force. No rush. Just quiet support.

That sense of safety allows the nervous system to settle. Curiosity replaces fear. Exploration replaces resistance. And confidence begins to build.

It’s true for horses and it’s true for us.

If we want learning, resilience, and brave steps forward, we have to create environments where it feels safe to look, to pause, to question, and to try. Safety isn’t slowing progress, it’s what makes progress possible.

For more information, contact Jacqui on 0424 032 355 or visit our website:
🌐 equineandhumanconnections.com.au


26/02/2026

✨Horses Orient Before They Settle — So Do We 🧡

When a horse arrives somewhere new, you’ll often see this sequence:

Head high.
Ears pricked.
Eyes scanning

They’re not being dramatic. They’re orienting.

They need to see the space. Hear what’s moving. Smell what’s unfamiliar. Feel the ground under their feet. Often they need to move — because movement helps them process.

and then this happens:

The big sigh.
The lick and chew.
The head lowers.
The body softens.

That exhale isn’t random. It’s the nervous system saying, “Okay. I understand where I am now. I’m safe enough.”

Humans need this too to settle our nervous system when in situations where we feel anxious or scared and if we use our senses and movement to regulate the nervous system we will be better able to engage in challenging situations and environments

🌐info@equineandhumanconnections
📞Jacqui: 0424 032 355

💚 Connection HealsConnection is one of the most powerful ways to regulate our nervous system. When we feel seen, heard, ...
12/02/2026

💚 Connection Heals

Connection is one of the most powerful ways to regulate our nervous system. When we feel seen, heard, and safe, our body knows it’s okay to relax, stress hormones drop, heart rate slows, and we move out of fight-or-flight into calm and balance.

Even small moments matter: a kind word, eye contact, a shared laugh, they restore regulation, build resilience, and remind us that we don’t have to face life alone.

🐴 These beautiful horses show us that connection is natural, gentle, and grounding.

If you want to learn more about how we support emotional, mental, and body-based regulation through equine assisted learning, reach out to Jacqui on 0424 032 355 or visit our website:
👇
www.equineandhumanconnections.com.au

Horses Show Us How to Manage Anxiety 💚When horses experience something new or unfamiliar, they naturally become more ale...
06/02/2026

Horses Show Us How to Manage Anxiety 💚

When horses experience something new or unfamiliar, they naturally become more alert. As prey animals, their bodies are wired to notice change and check whether they are safe. They communicate how they feel through their body language, their breathing, posture, movement, and attention.

Humans respond to stress in much the same way. Anxiety often shows up in the body first, before we’re even aware of it, as tension, shallow breathing, or a racing heart.

Equine Assisted Learning offers a gentle, body-based way to slow down, tune in, and build awareness of these signals. By working alongside horses, people can develop greater calm, confidence, and practical tools for managing ongoing stress and anxiety. 💚

This work is supported by Jacqui’s Occupational Therapy background, helping adults thrive mentally, emotionally, and functionally so they can fully engage in the life they choose.

📩 info@equineandhumanconnections.com.au or hillsoccupationaltherapy@gmail.com
📞 Jacqui: 0424 032 355

THE YEAR OF THE HORSE – 2026Equine-Facilitated Nervous System Regulation Workshops½-Day Workshop | 9:00am–1:00pmDates:• ...
01/02/2026

THE YEAR OF THE HORSE – 2026

Equine-Facilitated Nervous System Regulation Workshops

½-Day Workshop | 9:00am–1:00pm

Dates:
• March 1
• April 12
• May 16

Explore nervous system regulation through the calming presence of horses.

All abilities welcome; we support inclusion, providing a safe space for everyone.

Investment
$100 | $80 concession

Location
Chidlow (address provided on booking)

Small group
• Limited to 6 participants
• Minimum 4 to proceed

Bookings & details
🌐 equineandhumanconnections.com.au
📩 info@equineandhumanconnections.com.au
or call Jacqui : 0424 032 355

Slow Down🐌
22/01/2026

Slow Down🐌

Breathwork 🙏Taking a few minutes to focus on your breath can change more than you think.️Breathwork helps calm the nervo...
16/01/2026

Breathwork 🙏

Taking a few minutes to focus on your breath can change more than you think.️
Breathwork helps calm the nervous system, reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and boost energy levels.

Horses are prey animals and experts at reading subtle changes in breathing, muscle tone, and heart rate. When you slow and deepen your breath:

• The horse often relaxes in response
• Their calm state feeds back to you

This creates co-regulation, where both beings help stabilise each other’s nervous systems, gently shifting from fight-or-flight into a calmer parasympathetic state.

A horse can detect:

• Shallow or held breath
• Tension in your body
• Changes in your emotional state

And they respond honestly, in real time. There’s no pretending with a horse. Your breath becomes a bridge, between mind and body, between you and the horse, inviting safety, presence, and connection.

Sometimes, the most powerful change begins with a single, conscious breath.

13/01/2026

I am an Occupational Therapist who incorporates somatic enquiry with equine-assisted therapy as part of a holistic, client-centred occupational therapy approach.

This work supports body awareness, regulation, and meaningful participation through experiential learning and relational engagement alongside horses.

All services are provided within the scope of occupational therapy practice and aligned with professional standards and ethical guidelines.

A Curiosity-Led Midlife Women’s Circle with HorsesThis small group offers women in midlife the opportunity to pause, ref...
09/01/2026

A Curiosity-Led Midlife Women’s Circle with Horses

This small group offers women in midlife the opportunity to pause, reflect, and connect — with one another and with horses in a natural setting.

Through guided experiences with horses, gentle reflection, and shared conversation, participants are invited to explore the questions and transitions of midlife with curiosity rather than any pressure to fix or change.

This is a non-therapeutic wellness group, designed to offer support, insight, and meaningful connection within a small community.

www.equineandhumanconnections.com.au

24/12/2025

In a world that constantly drains our strength, fills our minds with noise, and demands more than we sometimes can give…
there is a silence that heals.

A horse doesn’t ask who you are or what you carry in your heart.
It simply stays close.
In its calm — grounding.
In every breath — balance.
In its gaze — the quiet the human soul so deeply needs.

Beside horses, thoughts soften, anxiety loosens its grip,
and the soul remembers what it feels like to be at peace with itself.
That’s why they are not just animals.
They are my calm.
My restoration.
My silence in the middle of chaos. 🐎🤍

Address

345 Leschenaultia Place
Chidlow, WA
6556

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