(Coming Soon!)
*Waiting list available
Email us to hear about the new dates as they’re released!
(minimum of 5 participants to proceed)
The Horse Wisdom Program is an experiential group program (max 6 participants) based on spending time with horses with the aim of learning to:
- Inhabit your physical body (rather than living just in your head)
- Learn more about yourself and how you function in relationships with others
- Increase ability to live in the present moment (mindfulness)
- Develop a greater sense of authenticity, self-support, and wellness skills.
This is a ‘wellness group’ aimed at enhancing self-awareness and building your resilience skills (rather than a ‘therapy group’). You will be introduced to new ways of noticing and responding. This well-established program was developed by the Equine Psychotherapy Institute of Australia.
Over the two days, eight Horse Wisdom sessions will offer an introduction to:
Awareness – of the here and now. Noticing what is happening for you inside your body, in your mind, and in the environment around you. Developing Mindful Awareness.
Boundaries – exploring your “yes” and your “no”. Noticing what feels okay for you and what is not okay for you, in each moment.
Healthy Relationships – connecting safely with the horses and exploring trust. Learning to listen, understand, give and take and communicate boundaries. Exploring connections with others.
Feelings – experiencing them as information about what is happening to you. How to notice, tolerate, and express feelings respectfully, rather than ignoring feelings, pushing feelings down, or exploding.
Thinking – noticing and bringing into awareness what you are thinking and what you say to yourself. Your internal monologue, about yourself, about others, and about life. Noticing unhelpful thought patterns, awareness of your ‘self-critic’, and inviting self-compassion
Facing Life’s Challenges – identifying the skills needed to regulate our reactions, especially when facing challenges. Learning ways to respond healthfully and ‘choice-fully’ in the moment.
Horses are great teachers; they model healthy living for us by:
- Living in their bodies in the present moment, rather than the future or the past
- Living in awareness of what is happening inside their heads, and in the environment around them
- Using their feelings as information and responding in the here and now
- Engaging in authentic relationships
- Living co-operatively in a herd, seeking and maintaining connections with their peers
- Clearly communicating individual boundaries
There will be activities/experiences with the horses as part of each of the eight sessions.
No previous experience with horses is necessary and sessions occur on the ground only – no horseback riding is involved.
Activities/experiences and group discussions will be led by AASW Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and trained Equine Assisted Psychotherapist, Sara Beresford Terry. All horse activities will be co-facilitated by an equine specialist from Chapman Valley. You can find out more about Sara here.
ADD SOME RHYTHM for Regulation and Fun!
There will be opportunities to share and create some fun rhythms (and moments of stillness) around the fire when we have a drumming and rhythm circle on Saturday night and a short closing circle when we finish on Sunday afternoon.
Anyone wanting to add a horse ride to this experience is welcome to extend their trip and book a ride the day before or the day after the workshop (subject to availability). You’re welcome to stay in your accommodation for this extra night, free of charge.
$699 per person
(min. age 18 y/o)
The cost of this Group Program includes:
- Two full days of the Horse Wisdom Group sessions (8 sessions)
- Drumming circle (drums provided)
- Shower and toilet amenities
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Saturday
- Breakfast/Lunch Sunday
- Morning and afternoon teas both days
- A personal journal
- Accommodation in a private room in large erected tents (you can stay additional nights on Friday and Sunday at no extra charge if you chose, with access to fridge & BBQ if you want to prepare something for yourself Friday or Sunday evening)
- We will provide hot beverages and a campfire on Friday night
Group Program (invitation to engage):
Saturday: There will be 4 sessions each day, with the following breaks
- 8 am Breakfast all together
- 15-1.15 pm Lunch
- 30-6.30 pm free time
- 30-7.30 pm Dinner
- 30- 8.30 pm Drumming Circle
Sunday:
- 8 am Breakfast
- 10:15 am Morning tea
- 12 pm-12.45 pm Lunch
- 2– 2:15 pm short afternoon tea
- 3:30 pm- 4pm Closing reflections & Drumming circle farewell
- Clean and modern shared amenities (flushing toilets and hot showers)
- No partners or ‘fence sitters’ (non-participants)
- No riding of horses is included in the weekend package, however, rides can be booked separately
- Each participant has their own private room in a large three-room canvas tent
- Sleep in a large comfy canvas swag inside your room
- No phone reception or WiFi. Unplug for a couple of days
- Participants are welcome to stay the night before and the night after the event at no extra cost
- Whilst this is a private event, the amenities block is shared with other guests at Chapman Valley (campers, horse riders) who aren’t participating in the HWWW event
- In the spirit of full disclosure, whilst this is a “women-only event”, the facilitator’s male partner will be helping behind the scenes, cooking and cleaning up after meals
What to bring:
- Pillow and sleeping bag/WARM LAYERS OF BLANKETS AS THE NIGHT CAN BE VERY COLD!
- Towel and toiletries
- Sun-safe clothes (beanie, sun-safe hat, shirt) for the day, warm and cozy clothes for the night.
- Comfortable, solid, enclosed shoes. Open shoes such as thongs and sandals are not permitted near the horses but may be worn in camping areas.
- Sunscreen
Accommodation will be in a private room in large erected tents. We have clean modern amenities (flushing toilets and hot showers) available at the home base.
Yes, 3 meals will be suppled on the first day, breakfast and lunch on the 2nd (including snacks and drinks). We are used to catering for all dietary requirements; allergies, celiac, vegetarians, vegans, lactose intolerant etc!
Dinner is not provided the night before the event begins, or on the last night but you can access the fridge and BBQ if you want to prepare some meals on Friday or Sunday evening.
We supply a large canvas tent and canvas swag. Please bring your own pillow and sleeping bag.
Yes, you can stay on the Friday and Sunday night at no extra cost.
Absolutely! The easiest way to make a booking is by simply clicking the “book now” button above or go to our booking page here. Follow the prompt and it will be processed immediately.
No. In order to secure your spot, we require a full payment at the time of booking. Please note that all cancellations will be subject to a 20% Cancellation fee, and any booking cancelled or altered within 7 days prior to the event date will result in a loss of 100% booking cost.