Animal Instincts Australia

25/05/2026

🐴 “But what about the horses?”
It’s a question we believe SHOULD be asked in the equine-assisted therapy and learning world.

A recent research study looking at Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) explored whether therapy sessions create positive or negative emotional responses in horses.

Interestingly, the study found that well-managed therapy sessions were generally neither stressful nor particularly rewarding for horses — highlighting just how important good horsemanship, ethical handling and positive reinforcement are within these programs.

The research also found that sessions involving more physically and emotionally demanding participant needs could be more challenging for horses, reinforcing the importance of:
✔ appropriate horse selection
✔ rest and rotation
✔ consent-based interactions
✔ reading horse behaviour
✔ experienced facilitators
✔ positive reinforcement and welfare-focused practices

At Animal Instincts Australia, we strongly believe the welfare of the horse ALWAYS comes first.

Our horses are not “tools.”
They are living, thinking, feeling animals and valued partners in the work we do.

That means:
🐴 horses are monitored closely for stress and fatigue
🐴 sessions are adapted to suit the horse AND participant
🐴 groundwork and connection are prioritised
🐴 horses receive downtime, variety and enrichment
🐴 participants are taught to understand horse body language, respect boundaries and build trust
🐴 positive reinforcement training methods are incorporated into our programs to support clearer communication, confidence and positive experiences for both horse and human

One of the most powerful things horses teach humans is emotional honesty. Horses respond to what we bring into the space — our energy, tension, regulation, patience and intent.

Good equine-assisted work should benefit BOTH ends of the lead rope.

Because ethical animal-assisted practice isn’t just about helping humans.
It’s about creating relationships built on trust, respect and understanding for the animals too 💚

19/05/2026

🌾 A few things country life teaches you pretty quickly…

1️⃣ Some gates aren’t worth hanging onto
Not every argument, drama or opinion needs your energy. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is shrug your shoulders, keep feeding the horses and move on with your day.

2️⃣ Work with what’s in front of you
No point cursing the drought, the rain, the mud or the wind — you still have to get up and feed the animals. Life gets easier when you stop fighting reality and start figuring out your next step forward.

3️⃣ Let people make their own mess
You can’t save everyone, fix everyone or drag people into a better life kicking and screaming. Some people have to learn the hard way. Protect your peace and focus on your own paddock. Sometimes saying to yourself 'Not my pasture, not my problem' is the peaceful way forward.

4️⃣ Good things take time
Grass grows back. Young horses settle. People heal. Calves grow. Trust takes time too. Not everything is supposed to happen overnight.

5️⃣ Notice the little good stuff
A good dog. A quiet horse. Rain on a tin roof. Campfire chats. Kids laughing. Sunrises in the paddock. A beautiful sunset after a hard day. Life’s built from little moments, not just the big ones.

6️⃣ Get off the damn screen sometimes
Go outside. Touch dirt. Pat a horse. Sit by a fire. Have a real conversation. Humans weren’t built to stare at phones 24/7 and wonder why they feel disconnected.

Most growth doesn’t happen in one big life-changing moment.

Usually it’s just:
a better choice,
a calmer reaction,
a stronger boundary,
or getting up and trying again tomorrow 🌱

19/05/2026

Just because a child is physically in the classroom doesn’t mean they feel safe, regulated or ready to learn.

Many children spend their school day in survival mode — overwhelmed by noise, pressure, uncertainty, social demands or the constant effort of masking how hard things really feel.

From the outside, it can look like they’re “coping.”

But internally, their nervous system may be overloaded.

When children are dysregulated, anxious or emotionally exhausted, learning becomes incredibly difficult. This isn’t about behaviour, motivation or “trying harder.”

It’s about understanding that emotional safety and connection are essential foundations for learning.

At Animal Therapies Ltd, we often see how animal-assisted learning can help children feel calmer, more connected and more emotionally secure.

Animals can provide a sense of safety without judgment or pressure. They help create opportunities for regulation, confidence, communication and engagement in ways that feel natural and supportive.

For some children, meaningful learning begins only after their nervous system feels safe enough to participate.

18/05/2026

🐴 Equine Assisted Counselling – Bookings Now Open with Ro 💛

Many people hear “the NDIS doesn’t fund animal therapy” — but the reality is a lot more nuanced.

The NDIS DOES fund therapeutic supports delivered by qualified allied health professionals and counsellors where the support is linked to a participant’s goals and outcomes. In this case, the horses are simply part of the therapeutic modality being used.

For many individuals, traditional office-based therapy can feel overwhelming, clinical or difficult to engage with. Equine Assisted Counselling offers a different approach — combining professional counselling support with the calming, grounding and regulating environment that horses naturally provide.

Research and clinical experience continue to show that animal-assisted therapies can support:
✨ emotional regulation
✨ confidence and self-worth
✨ anxiety and stress management
✨ communication and social connection
✨ engagement in therapy and supports

Sessions with Ro may include:
🐴 groundwork and interaction with horses
🌱 emotional regulation strategies
💬 reflective counselling conversations
🤝 confidence, connection and resilience-building activities

No riding or horse experience is needed, and sessions are tailored to the individual.

Ro is a qualified counsellor with experience supporting individuals and families navigating:
• mental health challenges
• trauma and emotional regulation
• family and domestic violence impacts
• substance use and complex life circumstances

Animal Instincts Australia is also a registered social enterprise, meaning income generated through our services is reinvested back into supporting community programs, people and animal-assisted initiatives across our region — helping us create both individual and broader community impact.

📅 Taking bookings now from June onwards
📍 Sessions held at our peaceful rural property near Goombungee/Toowoomba
✅ Weekly or fortnightly appointments available
💡 Can be privately funded or claimed under relevant NDIS therapeutic supports

📧 To enquire or book:
hayley@animalinstinctsaustralia.com

Animal Instincts Australia delivers animal- and land-based programs supporting youth wellbeing, disability, mental health and community connection across regional Queensland.

15/05/2026

14/05/2026

Animal-assisted learning (AAL) programs integrate structured interactions with animals into educational, social, and therapeutic environments to support the development, wellbeing, and engagement of people, including children and young people.

For neurodiverse youth — including autistic children, young people with ADHD, sensory processing differences, learning disabilities, anxiety, trauma backgrounds, and other developmental differences — these programs provide a highly effective, strengths-based approach to learning and participation.

Research and practical experience demonstrate that interactions with animals can help reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, increase motivation, and enhance communication and social connection.

Animals create a non-judgmental and calming presence that can support young people who may experience barriers in traditional educational or therapeutic settings.

Animal-assisted learning programs are particularly valuable because they combine experiential learning with emotional safety and engagement. Through guided activities with specially selected animals, participants can develop:

Emotional regulation and self-confidence
Social and communication skills
Literacy and learning engagement
Sensory integration and calming strategies
Empathy, responsibility, and relationship-building
Attendance, participation, and school connection

14/05/2026

🐴 Why does Equine Assisted Therapy work?

For many people, sitting in an office and talking can feel overwhelming, confronting or simply ineffective — especially for those experiencing anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, stress, neurodivergence, or difficulty engaging with traditional therapy models.

Equine Assisted Therapy offers a different approach.

Horses are highly intuitive animals that naturally respond to human body language, nervous system states, emotions and energy. Because of this, they can provide immediate, honest and non-judgemental feedback in ways that help people build awareness, confidence, emotional regulation and connection.

Research into Equine Assisted Psychotherapy has found participants may experience improvements in:
✨ emotional awareness
✨ nervous system regulation
✨ communication and relationship skills
✨ confidence and self-esteem
✨ mindfulness and body awareness
✨ resilience and problem-solving
✨ trust, boundaries and connection

Studies have also shown promising outcomes for adolescents and adults who have not responded well to mainstream therapeutic approaches, particularly when therapy incorporates body-based and experiential learning alongside traditional counselling methods.

Equine Assisted Therapy sessions may include:
🐴 groundwork and interaction with horses
🐴 guided therapeutic activities
🐴 emotional regulation and mindfulness strategies
🐴 reflective counselling conversations
🐴 confidence and connection-building exercises

No riding experience is needed, and sessions are tailored to the individual.

Bookings for Equine Assisted Therapy with our qualified and registered counsellor are now open from June onwards.

📍 Sessions are held on our peaceful rural property near Goombungee/Toowoomba.

To enquire or complete an intake form:
👇
https://animal-instincts-australia.splose.com/public-form/a739b4ff-31a1-43b3-af3d-56909ff3eb3d

💡 Equine Assisted Therapy may be claimable under relevant NDIS supports when delivered by a qualified therapist/counsellor and aligned with a participant’s goals.

The NDIS funds the therapeutic support being provided — the equine-assisted component is simply the modality used within the session.

05/05/2026

🌿 We’re Growing – Welcome Ro to the Team 🐴

We’re incredibly excited to welcome Róisín (Ro) to Animal Instincts Australia as our Equine Assisted Counsellor, starting 4th June 2026

Ro brings a wealth of experience and a deeply trauma-informed approach to her work. Originally from Ireland and now based in Australia, she holds a Bachelor in Psychology and a Diploma of Counselling, with a strong background supporting individuals and families navigating complex life circumstances.

Her experience spans:
• Domestic and family violence support
• Complex mental health
• Substance use and family impact
• Homelessness and marginalisation

Ro is passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces where people feel seen, heard, and respected, and where real, meaningful change can happen.

Through equine-assisted counselling, Ro supports individuals to:
✨ Build emotional awareness and regulation
✨ Strengthen self-worth and resilience
✨ Reconnect with identity and personal agency
✨ Experience connection in a powerful, non-judgemental way

This is a beautiful addition to what we already offer here on the farm — combining professional counselling with the grounding, honest feedback that horses provide.

📅 Taking bookings now for a Thursday 4th June start date (weekly or fortnightly bookings available). Sessions can be privately funded or billed to NDIS.
📧 Email hayley@animalinstinctsaustralia.com
to enquire or secure a spot

We’re really looking forward to the impact this work will have for so many individuals and families in our community 💛

05/05/2026

🌿 Supporting Our Team – Introducing Our EAP Partner

At Animal Instincts Australia, we know that the work we do — and the people who deliver it — matter.

As we continue to grow, it’s important to us that our team feel supported not just professionally, but personally as well.

We’re really pleased to share that we’ve partnered with Warida Wholistic Wellness to provide an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for our staff.

This partnership allows our team to access confidential, culturally grounded and trauma-informed support when they need it — whether that’s navigating stress, personal challenges, or simply having a space to talk and be heard.

Creating a strong, supported team is essential to the work we do with young people and our community. When our people are supported, everything else flows from that.

We’re looking forward to working alongside Warida and embedding this support into our organisation as we continue to grow.

Looking for assistance to literally transform your life? Wanting to turn the blahs into embracing your best self? Contact us today for transformational coaching!

30/04/2026

🔥 WE’VE OPENED UP LIMITED NEW PLACES 🔥

A leading provider of animal-assisted learning programs across the Darling Downs, Animal Instincts Australia has spent nearly 7 years supporting people of all ages — and as we continue to grow, we now have limited availability for new participants.

🌾 Based on 103 acres just outside of Toowoomba
🐴 Equine & animal-assisted learning
🐾 Dogs, horses, livestock, farm life & real-world experiences

This isn’t clinic-based support.
This is hands-on, land-based, real-life learning for young people who don’t always thrive in traditional environments.

✨ Through our programs, participants build:
✔ Confidence
✔ Communication
✔ Emotional regulation
✔ Independence & life skills

💛 In a space where they can move, connect, and feel safe

We are now scaling our capacity and opening up new opportunities across our programs.

👥 Suitable for:

~ NDIS participants (social & community participation / capacity building)
~ Private clients
~ Children as young as 3 years old, and older adults needing something different

👉 Not every young person thrives in a room.
Some need space, animals, purpose — and connection.

📍 Goombungee (Darling Downs)

📩 Referrals & Enquiries:
https://animal-instincts-australia.splose.com/public-form/a739b4ff-31a1-43b3-af3d-56909ff3eb3d

⚡ Places are limited — reach out to learn more

28/04/2026

Reminder: ATL Free Members Event Tonight at 6pm AEST - Join us this evening for an important and thought-provoking virtual session:

Beyond General Suitability: Matching AAS and AAA Training to Role Demands and Owner-Trained Assistance Dogs – Realities, Risk, and the Role of Ethical Guidance

With over 30 years of experience, Charlotte (Founder of Perth Animal Training Specialists) will share her expertise in animal behaviour, assistance dogs, and Animal-Assisted Services.

Register to attend here or simply log in to watch through this link:
https://animaltherapies.vfairs.com/

This session will explore:
✔ Matching training to role-specific demands
✔ The realities and risks of owner-trained assistance dogs
✔ Ethical guidance in AAS and AAA
✔ Professional responsibility and welfare-first practice

Charlotte is a government-approved assistance dog assessor and a strong advocate for humane, evidence-based, fear-free training practices.

This is a must-attend conversation for practitioners committed to ethical, welfare-focused Animal-Assisted Services.

📅 Tonight
🕕 6:00pm AEST
💻 Virtual event

We look forward to seeing you there!