Brumby Equine-Assisted Therapy

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🌱 Nurturing Minds 🌱
Holistic Nature-Based Therapeutic Approaches in Mental Health & Wellbeing.
🙎🏻‍♀️Counselling
🐴Equine - Assisted
🌿Nature - Based

🔗Learn more: link in bio
📍 Blue Mountains, NSW 2790

15/04/2026

This is what contentment visually looks like in a herd.

Being with my herd, watching and becoming part of their rhythm. A couple resting side by side, and the others grazing slowly, it didn’t feel like anything needed to be added or be different.

A mutual agreement of who they are is received by each other unconditionally. A shared space of trust, attunement and belonging. Ruptures occur, but very quickly repaired with forgiveness, without judgement and without shame.

It is a complete inner balance, a felt sense of safety and clarity of what is, and what will be.

It was simply enough.

These horses have been both mine and my clients’ greatest guidance in reminding us to pause in each moment and feel what it is. There is always time to reflect and take away what arrived and landed for you.

14/04/2026

Yesterday evening, Summer had a play date with the big horses in their paddock. It’s something she often asks for in the late afternoons, but with all the rich grass, it’s not always possible to keep her out there for long. Being a little Shetland, we have to be mindful of her body and what she can manage.

So most days, she stays in a more contained paddock with Autumn.

And in that quieter space, something else has been unfolding.

We’ve been continuing to build on our work with Autumn. Taking our time with touch, allowing her to show us what feels okay and what doesn’t.

And now, we’re able to gently hold her front leg up.
It might seem like a small thing, but it’s huge for us and Autumn.

This has been a process over the past 12 months.

Not something we’ve rushed, but something that has grown over time through consistency, respecting her boundaries, and building positive associations through new experiences.

New Blog Post🍂Our interpreted worldWe often move through the world as if what we see and feel is simply “how it is.”But ...
14/04/2026

New Blog Post

🍂Our interpreted world

We often move through the world as if what we see and feel is simply “how it is.”

But what if it’s actually how it appears to us?

Our experiences are shaped by our past, our nervous system, our relationships, and the meaning we have made over time. Two people can share the same moment and walk away with completely different experiences.

In my approach, we don’t rush to decide what something means. We begin by slowing down.

Noticing.

Becoming aware of what is happening in the present moment, in the body, in the environment, and in the space between.

Because before we can understand something, we need to experience it.

And even then, meaning is not something we figure out alone. It emerges through relationship, through curiosity, and through staying with what unfolds.

This is what is often referred to as our “interpreted world”
The understanding that we are always making meaning, whether we realise it or not.

So the invitation is not to get it “right”

But to stay open

To notice a little more

And to gently question:

What am I experiencing right now, and what meaning might I be making of it?

To read more, visit our blog via the link below.
🌱 https://www.brumbyeat.com.au/blog

References
Spinelli, E. (1989). The Interpreted World
Staemmler, F. (2004). Dialogue and Interpretation
Husserl, E. Phenomenology and lived experience

11/04/2026

“Change occurs when one becomes what they are, not when they try to become what they are not.”

-Arnold Beisser

The paradox of change reminds us that transformation doesn’t come from striving to be different, fixing ourselves, or pushing parts away.

It asks something much harder.
To turn towards what is here.
To include all parts of ourselves, even the ones we hold shame or judgement around.

Because often, it’s not the feeling or experience that keeps us stuck,
but the effort to avoid it.

When there is space to be with what is,
something begins to shift, naturally and in its own time.

🍂🍁🍂🍁

Autumn has been much more involved in sessions lately.Over the past year, a lot of time has gone into simply being with ...
10/04/2026

Autumn has been much more involved in sessions lately.

Over the past year, a lot of time has gone into simply being with her. Learning her preferences, her comfort and discomfort, and the way she communicates through her body and presence.

What’s been really special is seeing others now step into that space with her. The trust they place in her, and the way she responds, offers so much learning in return. Clients begin to slow down, pay attention, and question their assumptions around connection, consent, and interaction.

Approach matters. We begin with her clear yes areas, and only if it feels appropriate, move towards her maybe spaces. Her no is always respected. Touch is never assumed, it is offered and responded to.

Awareness matters too. How we show up, our pace, our energy. Staying within a space where she feels safe and not overwhelmed allows trust to build over time. For Autumn, this is about learning that human interaction can feel supportive rather than restrictive.

The body map we use helps guide this process. It visually represents her responses to touch, creating a foundation for building positive associations and expanding her capacity at her own pace.

And this doesn’t just apply to horses.

In many ways, it reflects our everyday interactions. How often do we assume, move too quickly, or miss the subtle cues of others? Learning to pause, listen, and respect boundaries creates safer, more connected relationships.

For both horse and human, it becomes a shared process of trust, awareness, and learning how to be with one another, where capacity gently builds through safe, respectful experiences, not by pushing past what feels like too much.

Autumn School Holiday Offering 6 Week Equine Assisted Learning ProgramFor children aged 5–13There’s something different ...
07/04/2026

Autumn School Holiday Offering
6 Week Equine Assisted Learning Program
For children aged 5–13

There’s something different about learning alongside horses.

Not rushed.
Not performance-based.
Just space to slow down, notice, and build skills that last beyond the paddock.

Over 6 weeks, children are invited into a calm and structured environment where they can explore confidence, boundaries, and connection through hands-on experiences with our herd.

This is not a riding program.
It’s about relationship, awareness, and learning how to be with horses and with themselves.

What we explore together:
• Understanding horse body language and space
• Safe and respectful interaction
• Boundaries, consent, and gentle touch
• Emotional awareness and regulation
• Confidence and communication

Each session meets the child where they are, allowing them to move at their own pace while building real skills in a supportive space.

This program is flexible and can be offered:
• One-on-one
• Siblings
• Small groups

Who this is for:
Children who are curious about horses, need support with confidence or emotional regulation, or would benefit from a quieter, more grounded activity outside of mainstream sports.

No horse experience needed. Just a willingness to show up.

📍 Blue Mountains, NSW 2790
📅 6 weekly sessions (non-holiday period options available)
💰 $100 per session + GST

Facilitated by a Registered Counsellor and Certified Equine Assisted Mental Health Practitioner

This is a non-therapeutic program, while still offering meaningful social and emotional learning along the way.

If you’d like more information or to book, feel free to reach out
✉️ E: parihan@brumbyeat.com.au

Watched Rescued Hearts over the weekend. A common theme across each shared story was the deep sense of gratitude individ...
06/04/2026

Watched Rescued Hearts over the weekend. A common theme across each shared story was the deep sense of gratitude individuals held for the horses in their life.

There is such a quiet recognition of the role these horses played in their experiences, not as something that can be explained, but something that was felt.

One of the most common questions I’m asked before someone comes into a session is, “What will it be like?”

There is often a strong need to understand, to prepare, to predict the experience before it happens.

And that usually comes from a place of wanting certainty. Wanting to know what will unfold, how it will feel, and what it might mean. For many of us, that need for control is also a way we find a sense of safety.

But what this documentary beautifully shows is that no two experiences are the same.

What unfolds cannot be pre-planned.

And there is something powerful in that.

Often, I find myself saying to clients, come in with fresh eyes. Stay curious. Let yourself explore what is there, rather than trying to work it out before it begins.

Each person arrives differently.
Each interaction unfolds differently.
And what happens in that shared space with the horses cannot be fully explained beforehand.

As a therapist, it can be hard to put into words, because the moment we try to define or predict it, we risk taking away from the experience itself.

So I often say, come as you are.

You don’t need to know what it will look like. Just be open.
Open in your mind, open in your body, and open to what may unfold.

Because the work is relational.
It happens in real time, in the space shared with the horses.

Watching this also brought me back to my own beginning, to that first connection I had in my late twenties, and how that feeling has stayed with me.

It was a quiet but powerful reminder of what continues to matter in this work.

I would highly recommend watching this for anyone who has been curious about the connection between horses and humans, and the kind of experiences that can emerge within it.

🎬 Purchase your ticket to watch April 1-8:
🌎 rescuedheartsfilm.com

04/04/2026

Myself and the herd would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Easter break 🌿🐰🐣

A gentle reminder to slow down where you can, spend time with the people and animals that matter to you, and take a moment to breathe it all in.

02/04/2026

This morning, Misty had an itch. Nothing dramatic, nothing complex. She simply walked over to a tree and scratched. The need was there, she sensed it, and she responded.

Often in therapy, we use the phrase “meeting our needs”, but what does that actually mean?

In the simplest sense, it’s about becoming aware of what is happening inside of us and responding in a way that supports us. Not fixing it, not pushing past it, and not ignoring it. Just becoming aware… and responding.

Our needs are not always as obvious as an itch or thirst. Sometimes they show up as feeling overwhelmed, shutting down, irritation, restlessness, wanting to pull away or wanting to be close. And often, we have learnt to override them without even realising.

Meeting our needs often begins with awareness, then a gentle curiosity about what that might be pointing to, and from there, choosing what would support us in that moment.

That support might look like taking a pause, asking for space, seeking connection, slowing things down, or simply acknowledging what is present.

When a need is recognised and responded to, there is often a sense of settling. It no longer needs to push for attention. When it is missed or pushed aside, it tends to linger, build, or show up in other ways.

This is something we see clearly in equine assisted therapy.

Horses do not ignore what is happening for them, especially within the herd. If they need space, they move or create it. If something feels uncomfortable, they shift, signal, or increase pressure. If they feel safe and settled, they soften and stay.

Their responses are not random. They are moment to moment adjustments based on what is happening around them and within them.

In equine assisted therapy, this matters. It brings the focus back to what is actually happening in the interaction, rather than the story we might place on it.

In the space between horse and person, this becomes relational. It is about how needs show up in real time for everyone in the field.

Often, the work is not in doing more, but in tuning in sooner and learning to trust what is emerging. 🌱🪴

30/03/2026

This was this morning’s sunrise feed, one of the quietest times of the day, and often a space for reflection. Like most mornings, I found myself wanting to set an intention.

Not in a big, goal driven way, but something simple. A gentle reminder to be more mindful in certain areas. The way we use our words, the way we respond, the way we show up for others and for ourselves.

It had me realising how much of our day can be shaped without us even realising. Words spoken quickly, reactions that come from old places, assumptions that fill the gaps before we have even slowed down enough to notice what is actually happening.

And then there is the option to pause.

To become aware of where something is coming from before acting on it. To choose a response instead of falling into a reaction. To stay a little longer in curiosity rather than certainty.

I think intention lives in those moments.

Not as something we need to get perfect, but as something we return to, again and again.

Sometimes it looks like speaking with care.
Sometimes it looks like not taking something on that does not belong to us.
Sometimes it is catching ourselves before we create a story that was never confirmed.
And sometimes it is simply doing what we can with what we have in that moment.

It is quiet work.

The kind that is not always seen from the outside, but felt in the way we move through the world.

I see this so clearly with the horses. They are not listening to what we say we will do, they are responding to what is actually there. Our presence, our pace, our nervous system.

You cannot talk your way into intention. It has to be something you are in.

And maybe that is all it is. Not something to achieve, but something to come back to, over and over again.

A lot of the work we do here centres around awareness and often, it’s experiential.It’s about coming back to the present...
26/03/2026

A lot of the work we do here centres around awareness and often, it’s experiential.

It’s about coming back to the present moment. But what does this actually mean?
It’s about honouring your experience of what’s happening, and leaning towards the sensations that surface.

And often, it’s simply about noticing.

So I’m going to invite you into a small thought experience as you read this.

Right now… pause for a moment.

What are you noticing?

Not what you think you should notice.
Just what is already there or showing up for you.

Maybe it’s your breath
Maybe it’s tension in your body
Maybe your mind has already wandered somewhere else

Nothing to fix. Nothing to change. Just noticing

Just like when we’re with the horses,
they respond to what is present, not what we try to control.

In our sessions, whether we are with the horses or out in nature, this is often where we begin.

Because what we notice in the moment
often tells us more than anything we try to analyse.

24/03/2026

Autumn came to us from a deceased estate, and not much is known about her history. But when she arrived, one thing was clear. Being close felt hard for her.

Over time, I stopped trying to figure her out and just started noticing. Smaller spaces feel safer for her. Big, open paddocks seem to heighten everything, especially how visually aware she is. Smaller spaces help her settle. There’s less for her to hold.

In this session, a participant chose to work with her in a smaller paddock. Like always, we started with just sharing space. No agenda, no rush, just allowing everything to settle.

From there, what unfolded was trust work. Real time, relational work. It wasn’t about doing it “right”, it was about collecting information, responding, and trying again.

He began by inviting connection, offering his fist towards her, then stepping away. And then again. And again. Each time he returned, there was more clarity in how he showed up.

Even with my guidance and encouragement, how he showed up mattered. His patience, his willingness to listen, his compassion and understanding… you could see the relationship building in layers.

What was important here was stepping away before she needed to. So Autumn didn’t have to create distance. The space was already being held for her.

From there, he layered things in. From muzzle connection, to gentle touch, finding her yes spots, especially her forehead. Then the lead rope came in, not to use, but just to be part of the interaction.

The rhythm stayed the same. Approach, pause, step away. Consistency, again and again. Because consistency creates clarity, and clarity creates safety.

This wasn’t training. This was a relationship unfolding in real time.

By the time the rope rested over her neck, it wasn’t taken. And then she stepped towards him.

That moment wasn’t made to happen, it was offered.

This is the work. Relational, layered, built over time. Not fixing, not forcing. Just noticing, responding, and showing up again and again.🌱

Address

The Blue Mountains
Hartley, NSW
2790

Telephone

+61413781727

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