Kent Equine Facilitated Learning

10/04/2026

💥MISSING FOAL💥
Please share far & wide and keep a look out for this foal.
If anyone has an information on the where’s out of this foal please contact the owner Liberty Collins or Kent HorseWatch.

07/04/2026

One of the most common questions we receive is this: do you need to own your own horse to train with LEAP?

The answer is no. You need access to horses, not ownership. Livery partnerships, facility arrangements, and collaborative access all count. It is something we work through with you individually, because the right arrangement looks different for everyone.

If you have been curious about training but have been held back by this question, it may be worth coming to see the work before you rule anything out.

Our next Introduction Day is this weekend on the 12th of April! It is a hands-on day with the herd, open to complete beginners and experienced professionals alike, with no horse experience required nor therapy background necessary. You will explore how horses help us notice what is beneath the surface, what facilitation in this field actually looks like, and whether this work resonates with you personally.

It also counts as a prerequisite for the CFI Level 4 and Level 5 Diplomas, so if training is something you are considering, it is a useful first step.

There is no pressure to enrol, but you will leave with a much clearer sense of whether this path is for you.

The link to book is in our bio 🔗🧡

04/04/2026

We are of asked what a session might look like before a family attends an introduction session. Here are some of the phrases we adapt and work with as today we were reminded in the most BEAUTIFUL was that as we meet in the car park we are all in the same boat neither party know what the next block of time will look like till its done but we will endeavour to be ...

A warm, reassuring introduction for parents and carers.

🌟 Welcome message may look like this
“Your child does not need to perform, behave, or communicate in any particular way here. We follow their pace, their interests, and their comfort. Our horses are at liberty, and so are our young people.”

🧩 What to expect
A calm, quiet environment

No pressure to talk or interact

Sessions shaped around your child’s sensory needs

Predictable structure with gentle transitions

Space for movement, stimming, silence, or rest

A focus on strengths, not deficits

🐴 Our approach
Liberty‑based horse interaction

Trauma‑informed practice

No leading horses away from the herd

No forced touch or tasks

Co‑regulation through movement, breath, and presence

🌈 How we support autistic children
sensory‑safe spaces

clear, simple communication

autonomy and choice

flexible session flow

acceptance of all behaviours that are safe

💬 How families can help
share sensory triggers

tell us what helps your child feel safe

let us know if transitions are difficult

feel free to stay nearby or take a breather.

we ask that you give it chance to land the routine change the learning the settling …

29/03/2026

🌿 April Availability – Equine Therapy & Equine Learning Sessions
We’re heading into a busy spring at KEFL, with a wonderful blend of new young people joining us and long‑term learners continuing their journeys. As we approach full capacity, we’re pleased to share a small number of April session openings for families and professionals.

🐴 Current Availability
Equine Therapy (emotional support & regulation):

2 spaces available on Wednesdays

Equine Learning (confidence, communication & skills‑based sessions):

2 spaces available on Saturdays

3 spaces available on Thursdays

These sessions are suitable for children and young people who benefit from calm, relational, outdoor learning with our herd and team.

💛 Funded Family Sessions
We currently have limited funded spaces for families who may need support with:

Emotional wellbeing

ASD‑related needs

Preverbal communication

Trauma‑informed support

Confidence and regulation

If you’re a parent or carer, please get in touch — we’ll guide you through our gentle, supportive onboarding process.

💼 For Schools, Services & Professionals
We welcome enquiries from:

Schools

Social care teams

Health and wellbeing services

Alternative education providers

Please note:

Commissioned sessions are charged at rates comparable to similar services in our area.

Children funded through government Alternative Provision packages cannot be placed into our funded family spaces, but you are still encouraged to contact us so we can discuss suitability and commissioning options.

📈 Expanding Soon
Due to high demand, we are preparing to add an additional day of sessions from the end of April. If you’d like to secure a place before the new schedule opens, now is a good time to reach out.

📩 Get in Touch
Message us here on Facebook or email to enquire about availability, funded options, or professional referrals.
We’re here to help you find the right support for your child or service.

28/03/2026

🌿 The Pathway Toward Accountability
From survival mode → regulation → reflection → ownership
1. Physiological Safety First
When a young person is in fight/flight, their brain is in survival mode.
They cannot reason, reflect, or take responsibility.

Signs include:

Raised voice, anger, pacing

Blaming others

Shutting down or withdrawing

Quick escalation over small triggers

What helps:

Calm adult presence

Soft tone, slow movements

Space, not pressure

Co‑regulation (breathing, grounding, sensory support)

Predictable boundaries

This step is about helping their nervous system settle enough to think again.

2. Emotional Naming and Validation
Once calmer, they need help identifying what they felt and why.

Examples:

“It looked like you felt overwhelmed.”

“That sounded frustrating.”

“Your body was telling you something wasn’t okay.”

This reduces shame and defensiveness, making space for reflection.

3. Understanding the Trigger
Young people often react strongly because:

They misread a situation

They felt unsafe or unheard

They were overwhelmed by sensory input

They were protecting themselves from embarrassment or rejection

Helping them understand why they reacted builds self-awareness.

4. Perspective Taking
This is where accountability begins to emerge.

Questions that help:

“What do you think the other person felt?”

“What part of this was in your control?”

“What could you do differently next time?”

This step must be gentle — not shaming, not blaming.

5. Ownership of Their Part
Only after safety, naming, and perspective can they take responsibility.

Healthy accountability sounds like:

“I got angry because I felt embarrassed.”

“I shouted, and that wasn’t okay.”

“Next time I can walk away instead.”

This is not forced apologies or punishment — it’s internal ownership.

6. Repair and Reconnection
Repair teaches them that mistakes don’t break relationships.

Examples:

A calm conversation

A drawing or note

A simple “I’m okay now”

Rejoining the group respectfully

Repair builds trust and reduces future defensiveness.

7. Planning for Next Time
This step turns accountability into growth.

You might explore:

What helps them calm down

What boundaries they need

What early signs they can notice

What choices they can make before escalation

This builds emotional literacy and self‑management.

🌱 Why Some Young People Avoid Accountability
Many young people avoid responsibility because accountability has historically meant:

Punishment

Shame

Rejection

Being blamed for things they couldn’t control

Our approach at KEFL CIC looks like this — relational, attuned, non‑pressuring — and is exactly what helps our clients learn accountability safely all whilst snuggling up with this lot !

28/03/2026

🌿 How We Keep Everyone Safe at KEFL CIC
At Kent Equine Facilitated Learning CIC, every session is shaped by a triple risk‑assessment process that protects our young people, our facilitators, and—most importantly—our herd.

Working at liberty means our horses and alpacas stay in their natural environment, with their friends, free to choose how and when they interact. Because of this, our safety approach is thoughtful, responsive, and deeply respectful of the animals and the people we support.

✨ What we consider before every session
We complete three layers of assessment:

1️⃣ Environmental Check
We look at everything that might influence herd behaviour, including:

Weather (wind, heat, storms, visibility)

Ground conditions

Wildlife activity

Noise, machinery, or public presence

Any changes in the environment that could affect safety

2️⃣ Herd Behaviour Check
We observe the horses and alpacas before entering their space:

Are they calm, grazing, or resting?

Are they alert, bunching, or showing signs of tension?

Has the herd dynamic changed today?

Are any individuals showing discomfort or high energy?

3️⃣ Human Emotional Climate
We consider the emotional state of everyone present:

Clients

Family members

Facilitators

Yard staff

Public or onlookers

Horses are incredibly sensitive to human mood, so this step helps us shape sessions that are safe, supportive, and attuned.

💚 Why this matters
This triple‑layer approach allows us to adapt sessions in real time—sometimes working at the fence line, sometimes observing from a distance, and sometimes choosing reflective or creative activities instead of direct interaction. Safety, consent, and emotional wellbeing always come first.

🌱 Are you an emerging CIC working with animals?
If you're building your own practice and would like to join us for one of our CPD mornings—where we share best practice, safeguarding approaches, and herd‑centred methods—please get in touch. We love supporting others who are committed to ethical, welfare‑led work.

26/03/2026

🎉 Happy 50th Birthday to our wonderful Carolyn! 🎉

this week we celebrate not just a milestone, but a woman who embodies strength, compassion, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from living life with an open heart.

Turning 50 isn’t about getting older — it’s about stepping into a chapter where your power, your voice, and your presence shine even brighter. And anyone who knows Carolyn knows she has always been integral to everything we do at Kent Equine. Her belief in our mission, her steady leadership, and her fierce heart have shaped this place in ways words barely touch.

But more importantly than all of that… she is a truly wonderful friend.
The kind you can laugh with, lean on, dream with, and build something meaningful beside.

From all of us —
Michelle, Bev, the whole KEFL team, and especially the herd (horses, cats, alpacas, and donkeys) — thank you for being you.

Here’s to the next chapter, the next adventure, and the next 50 years of joy, mischief, and magic.

Welcome to the 50s club, Carolyn — it looks good on you. 💛✨

16/03/2026

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🌿 Current Availability & Full Provision at Kent Equine Facilitated Learning CIC
We are pleased to share our updated availability and a full overview of the support we offer to children, young people, adults, families, schools, and professionals.

🐴 Current Weekly Availability
Monday: 10–11am (Equine Therapy or Equine Learning)

Tuesday: Work Experience with support

Wednesday: Morning sessions before 11am & 1–2pm (Equine Learning and Equine Therapy)

Friday: Limited availability (Equine Learning)

Saturday: 11:30am (Equine Learning)

If you’re unsure which type of session you need, we will guide you during your initial booking.

🌱 What’s the Difference Between Equine Learning & Equine Therapy?
Equine Learning – £110
A structured, skills‑based session focused on:

Emotional regulation

Confidence building

Communication and social development

Personal growth

Wellbeing and resilience

Support for home‑educated young people

These sessions are educational and developmental rather than clinical.

Equine Therapy – £145
A therapeutic intervention delivered by qualified practitioners, supporting:

Trauma recovery

Anxiety, overwhelm, or low mood

Eating disorders

Attachment and relational challenges

Neurodiversity‑related needs

Complex emotional experiences

Many clients tell us that therapy in nature, alongside our herd, accelerates progress in ways they haven’t experienced elsewhere.

🤝 Who We Support
We currently work with:

Children and young people with Autism / ASC

Young people experiencing school refusal / EBSA

Individuals with eating disorders

Children in foster care

Young people at risk of entering care

Families needing alternative provision

Children and adults in care homes

Young people with trauma histories

Adults seeking therapeutic support

Parents and carers needing guidance or relational support

We support the whole family unit. Parents are welcome at the gate, and when beneficial, may be invited into the session.

🐴 Tuesday Work Experience (Supported)
Tuesdays are dedicated to supported work experience, offering young people the chance to:

Build confidence

Develop practical skills

Learn responsibility and routine

Work safely alongside our herd

Gain meaningful experience in a nurturing environment

This is ideal for young people who need structure, gentle encouragement, and a safe space to grow.

⏱️ Flexible Session Length
Sessions can be:

Shorter than an hour

Up to 2 hours

Adapted for physical ability, sensory needs, or emotional capacity

We work at the pace that is right for each client.

💛 Funding & Affordability
As a CIC, we aim to make support accessible.

For funded sessions, we ask families to contribute what is affordable.

Schools may be asked to support funding where appropriate.

Young people with government‑funded packages are usually not eligible for additional CIC funding.

Home‑educated families are not automatically funded — decisions are based on need and priority.

Our work often reduces pressure on other services by providing early, relational, nature‑based intervention.

📩 Ready to Book or Refer?
Message us to secure a slot or to discuss which type of session is right for you or your young person. Spaces are limited and fill quickly.

🔖 Hashtags for Reach

28/02/2026

28/02/2026

Hextable-based We Are Beams has proudly joined eleven other independent charities in creating the Association of Children’s Respite Providers.

This new national body, launched at the Houses of Parliament, is dedicated to strengthening the network of respite services for children with disabilities and their families.

Supported by Mims Davies MP, the new association will help charities like We Are Beams share knowledge, resources and best practices with other members - and vice versa.

Robin Adams, registered manager of the Dragon’s Retreat children's home Beams runs, is delighted to be involved.

“We Are Beams offers respite for children and young people with disabilities, creating a home-from-home enriching experience, promoting independent living skills and ensuring the young person has fun," he said.

"Being part of the new association is a step towards securing the long-term stability of these vital services across the UK and ensuring families continue to have access to this support”

28/02/2026

📣 Join Our Upcoming Webinar with Kent PACT - Parents and Carers Together

We’re pleased to be joining Kent PACT for a special webinar all about We Are Beams and how we support disabled children, young people and their families across Kent. 💜

🗓 Thursday 12 March
⏰ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

This session is a chance for families to learn more about who we are, the wide range of services we offer, and how we can provide support at different stages of your journey.

From family advice and short breaks to social opportunities, practical wellbeing support and inclusive activities, we’re here to help create safe spaces, build independence and support the whole family.

There’ll also be time to ask questions, so whether you’re newly navigating a diagnosis or looking for additional support, we’d love you to join us.

🔗 Join webinar here: 7fded225-c1e2-4457-8c06-50f0d0fd5ef9@84004053-5593-4506-8e59-3eff2bfb1988" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7fded225-c1e2-4457-8c06-50f0d0fd5ef9@84004053-5593-4506-8e59-3eff2bfb1988

We hope to see you there