Irish Horse: 'I went to a riding stable and here I found my zen’

Horses are truly remarkable animals. They lend their wings to some, and their hearts to others. For Fiona Coyne, horses offered a place of sanctuary from a difficult home life when she was growing up, and this helped to shape her future career as a psychotherapist, counsellor and equine asssisted learning (EAL) practitioner.

“I am not from a horsey background,” says Fiona. “I grew up in an environment of alcoholism and mental health problems. Once a week, I went to a riding stable and here I found my ‘zen’. I didn’t care what I did. I was happy cleaning tack all day, I led ponies in lessons and I attended the camps. Horses were my safe place.”

Fiona went through a particularly difficult time when she lost her father to suicide. Two years ago, her autistic brother Eamon also sadly passed away. “I have first-hand experience of the aftermath of suicide, and of mens’ mental health. At a certain point, I was persuaded to go for counselling. It made such a positive difference, and at the end of the therapy, my practitioner remarked that I myself would make a good therapist.

“I went on to study psychotherapy, and I found it very cathartic. I realised that I got through major loss and heartbreak, and that maybe I could help someone else to do the same.”

Psychotherapy

Returning from a period of time spent working in New York, Fiona decided to set up her own business in Ireland. She is now based in Summerhill, Co Meath in a beautiful thatched house. Her practice fittingly operates under the name of ‘The Thatch Therapy Centre’.

“It took me five years to find this special place,” says Fiona. “Over the last few months, we have been working to get everything ready. During that time, I have encountered plumbers, electricians, engineers, architects, builders, thatchers, groundsmen — the list goes on. The common thread has been that men are clearly under pressure. They talk about being ‘horrid busy’ and they often only half-jokingly say that they could do with a bit of psychotherapy themselves.

“When I suggest that they give it a try, they will tell me that they are too busy, don’t have time or don’t even know how they feel about things, yet they would often encourage their partners, children or family members to go. I counter this by saying that most men will bring a Jeep, tractor or farm equipment for a service before it breaks down. Why not do the same for themselves?”

Highest rates

In May 2023, research from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and from the UCD School of Psychology found that up to 25% of Irish farmers are at risk of suicide. Mental Health Ireland reports that Ireland has one of the highest rates of mental health illness in Europe. It has never been more important to reach out, ask for help and to break the stigma around doing so.

“Therapy is a resource,” says Fiona. “It helps the person who avails of it, but there is also a ripple effect for others who are close to that person. Issues such as bereavement, grief and loss are so hard to tackle by yourself. Therapy should be collaborative, and solutions-focused. It needs to be seen as a form of support in a safe space, with a medical professional. I think women are generally more inclined to reach out and talk to other women, whereas men tend to just put a brave face on it.”

Therapeutic benefits

Horses have featured heavily throughout Fiona’s life. “As soon as I could, I had my own horses. I even adopted a donkey,” she laughs. Equine assisted learning is something that is gathering momentum, and the therapeutic benefits of being around horses are becoming more widely known.

“Horses have a lower heart rate than humans, and this can bring the human heart rate down. There are many sensory benefits of being around horses too — the sounds, the smells, and so on. Horses are very sentient, and they help people to understand their own problems differently. It is a quite visual type of therapy, but it can yield incredible results.”

Fiona offers equine assisted learning using her 23-year-old thoroughbred rescue mare, Gaby. “Gaby came from Leinster Horse and Pony Rescue. She had been very neglected, but she is an absolute lady and has helped so many people. Training in EAL is the most rewarding thing that I have ever done.”

Fiona is also passionate about providing support to neurodiverse people, and the memory of Eamon is a large part of what motivates her. “I am doing this for my brother. I love what I do, and wish more people would give therapy a go. Giving therapy sessions as a Christmas gift instead of unwanted presents could really help someone.”