Hello and welcome to our recent new members, We’re delighted to have you in our little herd 😊 Please introduce yourself, make yourself at home, explore - and shout if you can’t find what you’re looking for 😊 We’re always happy to provide information or resources. And please share your expertise too 😊

When this community first opened, the plan was simple: create a secure, private space for Horses Connect students to access resources. Facebook had run its course for us and Skool ticked all the boxes because it’s organised, contained, professional, and fit for purpose. So we set it up that way. · Clear. · Structured. · Professional. · Very, very… serious. 😶 Which is fine on one level. This is serious work. People, horses, ethics, responsibility are all non-negotiable. But something was missing. Me. 🤪 More specifically, one of my core strengths: humour. Not jokes-for-the-sake-of-it humour, but warmth, lightness, humanity, and the ability to exhale, and to admit that sometimes we get it wrong too! The kind of humour that says: we take our work seriously, but not ourselves. Anyone who’s trained with Horses Connect in real life knows this only too well! 😉 There’s always been laughter, stories, raised eyebrows, and the odd ‘oh thank goodness it’s not just me’ moment. Somewhere that got lost and this community became BORING! If our horses were on Skool they’d have noticed! They don’t expect or respond to stiff, polished versions of us. They respond to presence ,and authenticity. Humans being human – warts and all. This community will always be professional, ethical, and grounded in best practice. And now it will also be more relaxed, more conversational, and occasionally playful. 🤭 · Same integrity and professionalism. · Less stiffness. · More relaxed. · Better learning. REFLECTIVE NUDGE Where might you benefit from loosening up a little in your life or coaching?

I don’t know how, why or when it began, but somewhere between puberty and adulthood I developed a serious dislike for swimwear. Not swimwear in general - just swimwear on me 😳 Almost overnight I went from being a daily swimmer and an active member of our local club to having a deep aversion to being seen in a swimsuit! This ‘phobia’ stayed with me for over 50 years. I denied myself the pleasure of an activity I really enjoyed because I was too self conscious about my body. Every January, I travel to Australia to look after my granddaughters while they’re on their school holidays. January is summer Down Under so days on the beach or at the pool are regular occurrences. Last year I decided to join them in the water 😳 It was terrifying - not the water, but the stripping off, walking to the sea, and then walking out of it again 😳 But, to my huge surprise, nothing happened! Nobody stopped what they were doing to point and stare. 🤣 There were no headlines in the paper the following day reporting a large, white, flabby, wrinkled creature on the beach 🤣 In fact, nobody cared 🤣 The courage to finally flash my flesh came from time spent with horses! They don’t notice what we’re wearing - or not! They don’t assess wrinkles, wobbles, or exposed bits that haven’t seen daylight in years. They don’t care how we look — only how we show up. They meet us exactly as we are, without judgement, commentary, or an inner critic shouting from the sidelines. Which raises a slightly awkward (but useful) question: If your horses accept you at face value, what are you still hiding — and who are you actually hiding it from? Over to you (optional, but encouraged) :What’s one small thing you’ve been avoiding because it makes you feel a bit too seen? No swimwear photos required. 😄🐴💛

For as long as I remember, I’ve been an avid science-fiction fan. It started with Torchy the Battery Boy, a children’s TV series about a small, wide-eyed battery-powered character who found himself in all sorts of adventures. Looking at it now, it’s more than slightly creepy 😳 At the time I was totally fascinated. When Star Trek arrived on Irish TV screens in 1970, I felt like I had finally found my tribe. I loved the adventures, the challenges, the sense of curiosity and courage that took us boldly where no one had gone before every single week. But more than anything else, I was deeply taken by something that wasn’t explained, debated, or mentioned. 👉 The unquestioned inclusiveness. Different species. Different cultures. Different appearances, abilities, ways of thinking and communicating. There were long speeches about tolerance or inclusion. No explanations. Everyone simply belonged. Your worth wasn’t based on how you looked, where you came from, or whether you fitted a narrow definition of normal. What mattered was how you showed up, how you contributed, and how you treated others. That quiet, matter-of-fact inclusivity felt radical, and and still does. I believe that is one of the reasons working with horses feels so familiar to me. Horses don’t ask: - What label do you carry? - How much are you earning? - What diagnosis do you have? - How old are you? - How important are you? - What’s your backstory? They don’t judge your words, your status, or your past. They only respond to: - your presence - your intention - your honesty - your nervous system - the energy you bring into the space To horses, our human perception of ‘difference’ doesn’t exist. We are all simply natural part of the whole system. Belonging is based on relationship, not conformity. Just like on the bridge of the Enterprise, there’s room for everyone as long as you’re willing to show up with awareness, respect, and a willingness to learn. 🌱 Reflection prompt:

Every now and then there's an article in the press or a segment on TV that opens the floodgates of people asking about our Therapeutic Horse-riding services. While we are delighted that the word is spreading about the amazing and multiple ways that being with horses can benefit children and adults with a range of physical, intellectual, mental heath and other challenges, we have a duty of care to be honest about possible outcomes. Parents regularly find us as a last resort, desperate for something to hold their child's interest, and we are upfront about the fact that we may not be able to provide the solution they're seeking. We created this Managing Expectations piece that we now include in the early stages of correspondence with a prospective new client. It has helped us to establish clear boundaries and prevent parents and children thinking that horses are an instant cure-all! You are welcome to copy and edit it to suit your own needs. We've learned a LOT since 2014 - most of the hard way - and we're always happy to share so don't be shy about asking. 🙂 MANAGING EXPECTATIONS Please, do not expect instant results when you bring your child to Horses Connect! There has been a lot of media coverage recently about how horses can help people, especially children on the autistic spectrum. It’s really important to know that there is science behind the effects of being in the presence of horses. It’s not magic. It’s not instant. And it’s not for everyone. Just like football, swimming or any other activity, horse-riding will not be a good fit for every child. We see little miracles - that are actually huge milestones - on a daily basis. A first word, eye contact, or initiating an activity – but these little miracles usually happen after weeks, months or even years of consistent work. So don’t be disappointed if your child doesn’t want to get up on the pony, or is more interested in playing with the sand! We have years of experience, and will do our best to encourage your child to ride, but it may not happen!