Seen and Herd Equine Assisted Therapy

05/09/2025

Week 2 for group and the weather held beautifully for us again, a heartfelt day of sharing and exploring how thoughts lead to feelings, physical sensations and behaviour, in general and then with the herd. Such amazing women with very different nervous systems and experience with equines supporting each other unconditionally. The Waratahs and proteas in full bloom adding to the experience of appreciating the beauty in life.



DM us to express your interest in joining our 2026 women’s trek home to themselves program….

01/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CkJxub1PM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Research Alert: Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) has gained increasing attention as a potential therapeutic intervention for individuals suffering with trauma-related disorders. However, empirical data supporting its efficacy, particularly in children and adolescents, remains limited. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of EAP in addressing the multifaceted nature of trauma. A literature review of research studies from 2008-2024 was conducted to qualitatively analyze the psychological, emotional, and physiological benefits of EAP for trauma survivors. Our findings indicate that EAP has significant potential in improving emotional regulation and decreasing trauma-related symptoms.

You can read more here:

https://yumedtext.com/article/the-effectiveness-of-equine-assisted-psychotherapy-for-children-with-trauma-related-disorders

31/08/2025

29/08/2025

A good start to the 6 week equine connections group program today, the sun was out the wildflowers abundant and the horses settled despite the wind, so amazing to see the way women who start the program as total strangers are supporting and uplifting each other in a matter of hours.

23/08/2025

Excellent post

🔬 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗔𝗬: 𝗨𝗞 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿

A growing body of research shows that 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗨𝗞 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 —despite decades of progress in equine science and behavior studies.
Yet, terms like “naughty,” “stubborn,” and “defiant” are still commonly used to describe horses showing 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀.

Let’s unpack why that’s a problem. 👇

🧠𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦 ≠ 𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦
Horses have 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘀 compared to humans. This part of the brain is responsible for 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀. Horses simply 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙧 “𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡” 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙧.

Instead, equine cognition is built on:

•𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 (classical and operant conditioning)
•𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 (especially negative reinforcement and avoidance learning, as well as positive reinforcement)
•𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 (primarily fight, flight, or freeze)

💥 What many riders perceive as “naughty” behaviour is often:

•A 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚 from unclear or conflicting signals
•A 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚 triggered by fear or insecurity
•A 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 to pressure, pain, or discomfort
•A 𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
•𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙣-𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙧 or remembered pain often missed or misinterpreted

📚 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 that labeling horses with anthropomorphic terms (like “naughty” or “cheeky”) leads to training methods that are less effective and more likely to cause distress or learned helplessness.

✅ A more ethical, evidence-based approach requires:

•Understanding the horse as a 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹
•Recognizing their limited ability to process 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
•Using 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
•Applying 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀, not tradition or punishment

💬 It’s time we stop blaming the horse and start questioning the human interpretation. Science offers us the tools - 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲?

Study link in the comments 🤓
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Scootboot
Equine Products UK
Arena Saddles
Equine Light Therapy LTD

22/08/2025

Thanks you to Equine Assisted Therapy Australia RTO no:41482 for this article! https://www.facebook.com/share/1E2DiYjrAx/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Like many students who have walked through EATA’s paddocks, Natasha Whitwell’s journey into equine assisted mental health began when she started to question what would come next in her life.

09/08/2025

Looking for an alternative for your childrens' mental health and emotional development? Read more about Equine Assisted Therapy in the latest issue of COAST Publishing magazine here https://coastmagazine.com.au/read-online
With lived experience and qualifications in working with neurodivergence, in both adults and children, this might be what you are looking for. Contact Tash on 0413369507 for details or visit www.seenandherd.com.au
NDIS registered business.

19/07/2025

This boy looks after me so well I’m so grateful to have him in my life!

18/07/2025

🐴✨ “I’m Fine.”
Your horse: Are you though? 👀

Here’s the thing. You can rock up to the yard smiling, holding your coffee, pretending life’s totally under control — but your horse already clocked your cortisol before you got your boots on.

Why?

Because horses don’t just read the vibe —
They sniff it.

🔬 Thanks to their superpowered noses and a fancy bit of kit called the vomeronasal organ, horses are wired to detect hormonal changes like stress, adrenaline, and the distinct scent of emotional chaos wafting off you like perfume.

That whole “2000% more sensitive” stat?
It’s a metaphor, not a GCSE maths answer.
But what we can say is:
👉 Horses = Sensory ninjas.
👉 Humans = Emotional squirrels pretending we’re chill.

They don’t care about your “I’m fine” voice.
They respond to what your body’s actually saying — even if you haven’t caught up with it yet.

And they do it without judgement.
No awkward questions. No “have you tried yoga?”
Just honest, grounded presence.

Which is why trauma-informed work with horses isn’t some woo-woo miracle —
It’s literally a biological recalibration with a four-legged truth detector.

They don’t buy your act.
They love you anyway.
And that, my friends, is why they’re the real co-regulators of this emotional rodeo.

🐴💥

12/07/2025

Sometimes it’s good to take your own advice and chill ….