Irish Horse: ‘it’s a long road, but horses have shown me how to walk steadily’

Imagine witnessing a child with no vision being carried by a horse faster than they can confidently move themselves, and trusting that horse to keep them safe.

Put yourself in the moment when an injured veteran finds a quiet relief from post-traumatic hyper-vigilance while leading a former racehorse.

These are the moments many equine-assisted service practitioners see play out every day, and it is why they are coming together as a collective for the first time to hold a special symposium in March: The Evolving Role of Horses For Human Health.

“The special moments when a non-verbal child asks the horse to “go” for the first time, laughs with you, or overcomes a fear that was holding them back, makes this the best job in the world for me,” says Lucy Dillon of ChildVision, the national education centre for blind and visually-impaired children based in Drumcondra, Dublin.

“In our equine unit we have eight horses in the heart of Dublin and an amazing team of staff allowing us to see over 100 children and young adults per week,” she says.

The upcoming symposium has been supported by Horse Sport Ireland (the governing body for equestrian sports) which is perhaps indicative of the growing importance of equine-assisted services within the greater equine sector.

These services cover a wide range of modalities and very often take place on a one-to-one basis or in a small group. Historically, equine-assisted organisations have perhaps been a little protective of their individual modalities, but the collaborative nature of this all-Ireland symposium signals a unifying approach to advocate for comprehensive, safe, and accessible services for those who really need it.

“Our service at ChildVision is not about teaching people to ride, instead we use the horse’s movement to benefit people through the effects it has on the sensory system and neurologically on the brain and body as a whole,” Lucy says.

“Research shows the importance of movement for the body and brain’s well-being and how rhythmical movement positively impacts a neurodiverse brain and its ability to interpret the world.

“The horses are more than just a component of a therapeutic service, they are the service. The welfare and care of our horses are paramount as they are incredibly special animals.”

Across the globe

Caitriona O’Meara describes the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGLA) model of equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development as “revolutionising mental health treatment by incorporating the profound and therapeutic presence of horses”.

She explains: “It is based on a team of three; the horse, an equine specialist, and a mental health professional. The model has proven effective across the globe to help people work through trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction and other challenges.”

Terri Brosnan runs the Regional Equine Therapy Hub for Stewarts Care in Kilcloon, Co Meath and offers therapeutic riding to children and adults with a wide range of challenges, including intellectual disability and autism.

“We work closely with families to get to know what will work best for them: it’s very much a bespoke service. All of our team are equine professionals and hold the AIRE Therapeutic Riding Coach certification as well as the internationally recognised Horse Boy qualifications.

“Equine assisted services have moved forward so much in Ireland in the last 10 years, it is fantastic to get the chance to come together to facilitate the symposium and to share all our knowledge.”

Green environment

Festina Lente was established in 1988 and is based in Bray, Co Wicklow providing a unique blend of “horses, horticulture, and community”.

It offers therapeutic riding, equine-assisted learning plus an equine outreach programme which visits nursing homes, hospitals, residential centres and schools and has a vocational equestrian training programme for young people with diverse learning abilities.

“I do this work because I believe in it – it’s as simple as that,” says Dr Jill Carey, CEO.

“I have learnt so much about myself through working with horses. The need to pay attention to detail, being aware of how our behaviour can impact on others, the need for and value in slowing down, of being consistent, setting boundaries, being authentic, developing empathy – the list is endless.

"And of course, in most cases, horses will be living in a green environment and so there is the double bonus of being in nature.”

As an equine-assisted occupational therapist and co-founder of EquiSense in Co Meath, Audrey Darby says: “I have the privilege of merging my two passions – empowering individuals and the transformative bond between humans and horses.

"I’ve witnessed how horses create an unparalleled therapeutic space, offering families something traditional clinics cannot – a path to connection, regulation, and growth.

Our service at ChildVision is not about teaching people to ride, we use the horse’s movement to benefit people through the effects it has on the sensory system and the brain/body as a whole

"We approach therapy holistically, drawing on the strengths of a multidisciplinary team (occupational therapy and therapeutic horsemanship). We’ve seen children improve not just in functional tasks, but in joy, independence, and family connection.

“Parents tell us how their child’s newfound confidence and regulation carries over into school, home, and play.”

The first certified equine Gestalt coach in Ireland is based in north Co Meath and has joined the symposium organisational collective. Michelle Devitt’s specialised area is ancestral heritage and epigenetic trauma.

“The Gestalt coach sees the client as an equal, and works with whatever crops up in the moment, then creates an experiential experiment alongside the horse, assisting the client to look at their past traumas or ‘unfinished business’.

“Whilst traditional talk-therapy provides a thorough understanding of a past trauma at a cerebral level, Gestalt coaching affords the client the opportunity to somatically experience the ‘lightning strike’ of the trauma and release their pain effectively, supported by the horse.

Wider effect

Two-thirds of participants have reported “decreased” or “significantly decreased” anxiety on completion of Melanie Downes’ Horse Knowing equine-assisted learning programme in Co Westmeath.

Importantly, the wider effect on families has been acknowledged through feedback such as this quote shared by a parent about a teenage girl who took part in a pilot project funded by the Department of Agriculture:

“She has found this to be a massively positive experience. She has had guaranteed weekly releases from her persistent self-destructive thoughts which have been invaluable. She finds a sense of self at each and every session and appears to be at peace in her own mind after each one. She finds the horses are very inquisitive of her and she loves that element.”

For anyone who feels equine-assisted services may help someone they know, or who is an equestrian or healthcare professional who wants to find out more, the symposium can provide guidance.

The last word should go to this note from a soldier who was injured in Afghanistan and who worked for 10 weeks at my own Co Fermanagh equine-assisted charity, Groundwork, with our former racehorse, Whiskey Jack, and who has continued to walk positively on his road ever since.

“I have PTSD. I struggle with alcohol and I tried to commit suicide more than once before coming here. With these horses, here in the safe and peaceful setting, I have found the courage and encouragement I need to begin a new chapter. I have learned skills I can use every day to help me lower my anxiety and to ground myself. I know it’s a long road but the horses have shown me how to walk steadily on my road. I will be forever grateful to have learned the magic of horses.”

The Evolving Role of Horses For Human Health, will take place on 10 March, in collaboration with Horse Sport Ireland, at the Clonshire Equestrian Centre, Co Limerick. Contact groundworkeal@gmail.com if you are a practitioner who would like to present their practice either by workshop or presentation.