It is good to see organisations getting themselves together and doing this work. Fabulous! If I can be of any help, please let me know; I am always supportive of organisations and individuals who are therapeutically working with horses.
Mike Delaney is a leading authority on addiction therapy with over 30 years consultancy experience with individuals, rehabilitation centres and professional bodies in the UK and internationally.
I came along to the Equine Therapy sessions because I was feeling depressed and demotivated. I heard about the therapy via word of mouth.
I feel alot better about how I feel about myself, by being more aware about what is going on around me and not letting things affect me the way they did before i.e. not letting things wind me up. I feel happier than I have been in a long while which is great and this will give me the confidence to move forward with my life.
The horses were an amazing part of each of my sessions as they seemed to understand how I was feeling inside, by going on my inner emotions - WOW. They made me take a good look at myself and to dig deep to overcome my FEARS, which I feel I am achieving bit by bit. They also made it fun for me too and so made me take stock and think that there is nothing to be fearful about really. You had to be honest with your feelings as the horses wouldn't do anything unless you were, which was really interesting.
Sophie
I did not really know anything about equine therapy before I met Jo and initially I as a guinea pig (case study) for Jo and Nat, and brought along my daughter who I felt would benefit from the experience. There were six sessions in total. I was not aware for the first three sessions that the therapy was anything to do with me! It was not until the last three sessions where there was a realisation that what was actually going on with my life was all about keeping everyone else happy, to my own and sometimes my daughter’s detriment.
During the therapy you have time to just think. This sounds strange but in today’s busy society to actually have time to stand still, appreciate your surroundings, chill and just listen to your thoughts and address the issues they raise is rare.
Jo and Nat, together with the horses of course, gently, without you realising it, make you come to terms with the issues that you are addressing.
I went from being a wound up stressful working lady who accepted everything life was chucking at her and tried to get her daughter to do everything her way, through to Mrs. Angry and then enlightenment or realisation that I did not have to accept everything that was going on in my life; that I could change things; that my own happiness was important and that my daughter was her own person with her own character and just needed my support, not my criticism.
I cannot praise Jo and Nat enough. Their patience and understanding is amazing. I do not seem to have mentioned the horses much but they are an essential part of the therapy, and to see how they interacted with my daughter or me dependent on the mood my daughter or I was in was fascinating.
Mother & Daughter
It's difficult for me to express how emotional an experience meeting the horses and the EquATA therapy team has been.
I didn't really know what my issues were before I came here. I just had an overwhelming sense of being out of balance, being uncertain and looking for direction in a sort of foggy existence.
I'm slowly realising how difficult it has been over the years for me to trust situations, people, myself and animals. All a result of an over protective barrier that I've built up around myself, perhaps since early childhood memories of being bitten by a dog that I thought I knew well and belonged to close family friends.
I still have a fair way to go, in learning to trust, relax, let go and yet still protect myself in a more emotionally constructive and healthy way. But I'm on the right path, thanks especially to the affectionate acceptance from the horses, the understanding of the therapists, as well as the calming and beautiful woods around here.
Mark
Dear Jo & Nat
Please find this letter by way of thanks for all of the help and support you both have offered my husband & I.
Your venue is such a beautiful tranquil place that instantly you feel relaxed and at ease and I would recommend you to anyone in need of help.
I love to see my husband achieve the various goals or tasks that you set him and although it is early days I feel it is the start of a better life for both of us.
Once again please accept my Many Thanks. Keep up the good work and I hope your business goes from strength to strength.
Yours faithfully
Mr & Mrs M
Kettering
Dear Jo and Ellie,
No words can express our grateful thanks to you both over the last 6 weeks, working together, my daughter and I along with the horses has been an amazing experience. We both feel that we have been on an eventful journey.
From week 1 right through to week6, we now feel better able to communicate within our family group and outside, school work etc, whatever personal issues we were having on that particular day/week was instantly picked up on by the specially selected therapy horses.
Driving up to the lodge a feeling of peace and tranquility came over us and the poem by William Davies instantly springs to mind when stopping and looking around the tranquill and peacefull setting at Grafton Park Lodge.
"What is this like if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare,
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cow's,
A pool like this is full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Thankyou both once again for the opportunity of working with you and your horses and if you need any help or volunteers you know where we are.
