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I tried equine therapy to see if it would improve my mental health

Words by Tamille Head

“I was apprehensive to step into a round yard alone with a horse and my often chaotic mind.”

Nestled in the Tallebudgera Valley on the Gold Coast sits Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, an exclusive, one-of-a-kind eco-retreat. During a recent stay, I stumbled across a somewhat unconventional type of therapy it has on offer. I was instantly intrigued by the equine therapy offerings, a treatment method that’s entirely unique to Gwinganna.

Plagued by mental illness and body image issues my entire adult life, I was willing to try anything to develop a better awareness of the way my mind works. I’ve been interested in equine therapy since Kelsey Peters, one of the lead characters of the TV show Younger, divulged her deepest, darkest secrets to a friendly filly in season two in a bid to move on from an ex-boyfriend.


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In principle, equine therapy helps uncover the issues and blockages that can cause stress and anxiety in our lives. The calming presence of the horse supports you in this path of inner reflection.

There is considerable research into the impacts equine therapy can have on our mental health, with participants in equine therapy programs often reporting reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, along with enhanced self-esteem and body satisfaction. With nothing to lose (and hopefully much to gain), I put it to the test.

How my experience unfolded

My morning starts at 6am with a quick breakfast before heading down to the horse yard. It’s a bleak winter morning and the sun has only just started to rise, so there are blankets waiting for us to bundle ourselves up in as we perch outside the round yard. I’m joined by three other guests, all of us female, and each of us is brimming with nervous anticipation for what lies ahead.

Two of the other ladies have visited Gwinganna before and participated in the equine sessions, so it’s validating to know that, in their eyes, they’re worth coming back for. We’ve already gotten acquainted with each other by the time our equine therapist, Sharon Kolkka, a leading wellness advisor, speaker and mentor with more than 40 years of experience in the industry, starts to make her way towards the yard, a gorgeous chestnut-coloured mare who we’re later introduced to as Stevie gliding gracefully beside her.

Sharon begins our session by explaining what we’re here to do and how we can get the most out of the experience. She demonstrates how we’ll be instructing Stevie to move around the yard, following some small subtle cues. She lifts a hand and begins to pace around the circular yard and Stevie follows her. She makes a small hand movement and he stops. Another cue and Stevie begins cantering. What Sharon is hoping to teach us is how the smallest action with our body can send messages to those around us – humans and horses alike.

This will be a lesson in human behaviour, communication and how body language and cues can help us master leadership. Finally, it was time for us to get into the round yard, one by one. As I sat outside watching as each of the other three women took their turn, my nerves quickly settled as I witnessed each one of them apparently have profound experiences. There were tears, laughter and deep conversations with Sharon, with each one of them handing back the reins with a huge smile and a look of amazement on their faces.

While I won’t share the intimate details of each of their experiences (after all, what happens in the round yard, stays in the round yard) I will say that each of us came with a unique list of ‘issues’ to overcome, and while one wheelchair-bound guest was in the round yard, the rest of us were moved to tears as we witnessed the most incredible bond develop between her and the horse, trusting it so deeply that at one point she lifted herself out of her chair and allowed Stevie to guide her around the yard. That moment alone gave me a new perspective on my body image issues.

Stepping into the ring

Then it came time for me to step into the ring. I should preface this by saying I am not a horse girl – never have been. While all my classmates in my grade nine cohort in regional Queensland spent their weekends at pony club meets, I seemingly missed that attribute in the teen girl starter pack. I’ve never spent much time around them, and until recently had found their stature quite intimidating.

So, as you can imagine, I was apprehensive to step into a round yard alone with a horse and my often chaotic mind. From the outset, it might look quite basic. I was handed a rope and my only job was to encourage the horse to follow me in a circle around the yard. Simple, right? Well, not exactly. It became immediately obvious that if I were to get Stevie to follow my lead, I first had to get into the right headspace. It took me a few attempts to master the art, and there were several times when I would be walking with Stevie at my side when all of a sudden, he stopped and turned the other way.

“Where did your mind go?” Sharon pressed. What followed was a very deep conversation in which some of my deepest shadows were revealed. I felt lighter after voicing some things I didn’t even realise were weighing heavy on my mind. Back to the drawing board we went, and this time Stevie followed my every direction. I felt like I’d mastered my mind. As Sharon later explained to me, this is because the horse becomes a bio-feedback mechanism, offering non-verbal information in real-time about the humans that enter their personal space.

“This heightened physical and mental awareness can help individuals become more attuned to their bodies in a positive way, fostering self-awareness of how their thoughts, feelings and emotions impact their nervous system and all aspects of their interpersonal relationships,” she explained. “Horses are sensitive to the emotional states of humans and can mirror these emotions back to them.”

This feedback helps individuals recognise and regulate their own emotions. Learning to manage and understand emotional responses can be particularly beneficial for people dealing with mood disorders or emotional dysregulation, promoting better mental health and stability. For those after a more private experience, you can also choose to take an equine-assisted therapy session, led by a mental health practitioner, that offers guests an opportunity to explore many aspects of their emotional self, including trauma and healing.

However, the shared experience and vulnerability of strangers that I experienced in my group session were incredibly special. It’s the very reason that Sharon cites these classes as her favourite, noting that guests are often stunned to see the horse interact differently with each person. “In this way, there is learning for the guest when working directly with the horse and learning by watching, because we all have common human traits,” she said.

“Working with horses often requires teamwork and communication with therapists and observers. This environment helps individuals develop and practice social skills and enhance [their] relationships with others. This can lead to everything from improved self-regulation, leadership and greater psychological well-being, which is critical in dealing with the highs and lows of life in general.”

Sharon shared many gems with us that morning, but one thing she said has stuck with me from that session: “We can achieve the same result with little force”. So simple in theory, but it’s something that’s taken me a little while to master since leaving the comfort of Gwinganna. I might not have experienced that same release Kelsey Peters did on screen (IYKYK), and of course, I’m not entirely cured, but on the days when it all seems too much, I repeat those words to myself and it puts everything in perspective.

To learn more about equine therapy, head here

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