Brumby Equine-Assisted Therapy

20/09/2025

Yesterday unfolded in a way that felt deeply meaningful. A spiral was created on the ground, a simple shape with a deeper purpose. The spiral invited reflection on what was ready to be released, whether it was a belief that no longer felt true, a relationship that no longer felt safe, or a thought that had grown too heavy to carry. Step by step, the client walked the winding path, gently accompanied by the quiet presence of Denver, calm and grounded.

Denver didn’t rush or judge. His steady presence reminded us that letting go does not need to be dramatic or forced, it can be as natural as the turning of seasons. Each step inward was a chance to name what no longer served, and at the centre of the spiral there was a pause. This was the place of choice. Sometimes the act was simply letting go, feeling the release sink into the earth. Other times, it was choosing to replace it with something new, a hope, a strength, or a value to carry forward.

As Denver breathed softly at the edge of the spiral, he became a reminder of how horses live with clarity. They release what is unnecessary in each moment, whether it be tension, fear, or expectation, and return to presence. The spiral reflected this same rhythm. Letting go was not an ending but an opening, making space for what felt more aligned and life-giving.

When the client stepped back out of the spiral, they carried a sense of lightness and clarity, anchored by the quiet presents of Denver. The spiral remained on the ground, a symbol of both release and renewal, a reminder that in every cycle there is a choice about what we carry forward.

18/09/2025

Funding Opportunity for Animal-Assisted Mental Health Support 🙌

If you’re on the Gold Coast or in Northern NSW, this new funding round could help you or someone you know access vital animal-assisted mental health support.

Eligible groups include:
Single parents with children
•Young people
•At-risk adults with limited access to support

Applications are now open via the link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LXY6VK2

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

For those living on the Gold Coast or Northern NSW.

Are you a single parent with children, a young person, or an at-risk adult who has limited options to access the help you need through animal-assisted mental health support?

If so, you can apply for animal-assisted mental health funding via:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LXY6VK2

This funding round has been made possible through the generosity and ongoing support of our partner, the James Frizelle Charitable Foundation (JFCF).

We acknowledge and thank JFCF for their commitment, care, and incredible contribution to our communities. Through this valued partnership, ATL is able to provide animal-assisted mental health support to some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people, for which we are very grateful.


James Frizelle Charitable Foundation

17/09/2025

🌱 End of Term School Holiday Workshops – October 2025

Imagine your child spending a day in the Blue Mountains where the pace slows down and little moments of joy appear everywhere.

🐴Misty will be there for the kids who like to take things slow, 🐴Chance will bring the spark of adventure, and 🐴Barney will show the calm strength of working together. Each horse has a way of drawing kids into connection at their own pace.

Around them, the day unfolds in simple, grounding ways – bare feet on the grass, fresh mountain air, hands covered in paint, and the gentle sound of horses munching nearby. This isn’t just another school holiday program. It’s a space for kids to breathe, belong, and carry home memories that remind them they are braver and more capable than they thought.

🌿 What to Expect

Our 2-day workshops are designed to support children through:
•Emotional regulation and confidence building
•Gentle activities with our horses
•Connection with nature, self, and others

🐴 Day One – gentle introduction and awareness
🐴 Day Two – deeper practice
(Both days include horse interaction)

📅 Details
Dates: Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd October 2025

Duration: 3 hours each session (includes a short break with refreshments)

Investment: $150 + GST

Location: Hartley, Blue Mountains

🙌 Parent Feedback

“We sent our 6yo to the 2-day workshop and couldn’t be happier about the time he spent out in the nature with beautiful horses. Parihan was very professional and always made sure our son was comfortable in every activity and all aspects. Will definitely be back for the next school term workshop.”
– Myriam Corona

🔗 Register Now

👉 Register here
👉 https://www.brumbyeat.com.au/eventworkshopregistration

🌐www.brumbyeat.com.au | 📞 0413 781 727

✅ ACA Member Counsellor
✅ NDIS Registered Therapeutic Provider
✅ Certified EAMH Practitioner

🌿 Limited spots available – secure your child’s place today!

16/09/2025

✨ Sneak Peek ✨

How many times have we heard ourselves saying the words, “I know exactly how you feel”? It usually comes from a good place. We want to comfort, relate, or let someone know they’re not alone. But the truth is, we don’t actually know how someone else feels. And often, those words can take the focus away from the very person who just needs to be heard.

Celeste Headlee’s article, Why we should all stop saying “I know exactly how you feel”, is such an important reminder. It highlighted for me how easily we can fall into conversational habits that shift attention back to ourselves when someone is really looking for understanding. It’s a gentle nudge for us all to pause and reflect on how we respond the next time someone opens their heart.

💬 In my latest blog, I share:
🌿 The trap of turning the spotlight
🌿 What makes the difference
🌿 Why listening matters more than fixing
🌿 A gentle practice for everyday life
🌿 Final reflections on real connection

Read the full post here 👉 brumbyeat.com.au/post/why-we-should-stop-saying-i-know-exactly-how-you-feel

14/09/2025

“Only the present moment is real”
-Thich Nhát Hanh

The past has already gone and the future hasn’t yet arrived. The only place we can truly be is here, now.

Horses are constant reminders of this. They meet their needs as they arise, whether it is seeking food, rest, or connection, and they do so without making anyone around them feel less or left behind. There is a natural balance in the way they live, fully present with themselves while remaining present with others.

It is a gentle invitation for us too: to meet life as it comes, moment by moment, while staying connected to those beside us.🌱🐴

11/09/2025

👌🏻R U OK? Day was yesterday (11.09.24), but the importance of checking in with one another extends beyond just one day. Making the effort to ask how someone is doing should be part of our daily routine.

🌿Every day is an opportunity to show care and support. Your simple question can have a profound impact. Let’s keep the conversation going and make mental health a priority every day.

SUPPORT👇

13YARN — A support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
☎️ 13 92 76

Mental Health Online Service — Free online mental health support including self-help tools & professional support.

🔗 https://www.health.gov.au/topics/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-contacts?utm_source=chatgpt.com

08/09/2025

Our First Practitioner Circle

Yesterday marked the very first Brumby Practitioner Circle, and I’m feeling so grateful. 🙏A heartfelt thank you to Sonja Keller for her incredible presentation. Her knowledge, generosity, and the effort she put into sharing her resources made the day so valuable.

For those who couldn’t attend, Sonja’s DBT cards are an amazing tool I use regularly in my own sessions – simple, practical, and beautifully thought out. You can email her directly at sonja@sonjakeller.com.au to find out more.

I’m also truly grateful to those who came along and contributed to making the circle such a meaningful day.

🙏A special moment for me was having Camilla join us. She mentored and trained me during my counselling and equine assisted mental health practitioner journey, and her presence at this first circle meant so much.

This was just the beginning, and I’m so excited to see how these circles grow into a space of learning, connection, and support for practitioners. Stay tuned for dates of the next circle.🌼

07/09/2025

🧘🏻Rest is more than sleep. We need different kinds of rest to truly recharge and reconnect with ourselves. 🌀Here are seven types of rest that support our whole being:

🔅Physical Rest
This includes both passive rest (like sleep, naps, lying down) and active rest (gentle stretching, yoga, walking in nature). It allows the body to recover and recharge.

🔅Mental Rest
Our minds can get overloaded with constant thinking, planning, or problem solving. Mental rest looks like creating quiet moments, pausing from multitasking, practicing mindfulness, or even doing a simple repetitive activity that doesn’t demand much thought.

🔅Emotional Rest
This is about taking breaks from people pleasing, emotional labour, and holding space for others. Emotional rest often comes from safe spaces where you can express yourself honestly, journal, or spend time with those who don’t place demands on you.

🔅Social Rest
We sometimes feel drained not because of people, but because of the wrong people. Social rest comes from spending time with supportive, uplifting connections or simply allowing yourself solitude when needed.

🔅Sensory Rest
Our senses are constantly bombarded with noise, screens, bright lights, and information. Sensory rest means unplugging, stepping away from screens, spending time in nature, or sitting in silence to soothe the nervous system.

🔅Creative Rest
This type of rest renews our sense of wonder and inspiration. It comes from appreciating beauty, art, music, or nature, giving ourselves permission to receive inspiration rather than constantly producing.

🔆Spiritual Rest
Spiritual rest connects us to something larger than ourselves. This might be through meditation, prayer, rituals, community, or simply being in nature and feeling part of something greater.

04/09/2025

Some days begin with a pause at the fence and a softening breath. The mare in front of me sighs, blinks, and steps a little closer. That feels like a yes. Other times I reach too quickly and she turns her ear away. That looks like a maybe. We pause, give space, and try again. When I settle, she settles. That is co regulation you can feel.

In sessions we keep it simple. Horses respond to breath, posture, and intention. They show yes, no, and not yet with their bodies, and they do it without judgement. Together we notice the cues, ask rather than push, and respect the answer. We practise repair in tiny ways by stepping in and out, pausing, and returning with more clarity.

These small moments build confidence. Standing side by side. A few quiet steps of leading. A gentle groom. Being outdoors helps too. Fresh air and open space make it easier for the nervous system to settle so learning can stick.

This is why I include horses in relational work. The feedback is honest and kind, the focus on the horse takes the pressure off face to face talk, and the lessons about trust, boundaries, and choice become real in the body, not just ideas in our head.

📍 Hartley, Blue Mountains
🌿 Brumby Equine Assisted Therapy
✅ ACA registered counsellor
🔗 brumbyeat.com.au

03/09/2025

It’s that time again… magpie season!🐦 First swoop was yesterday in the paddock, but today the riding helmet came out! ⛑️😁