Equine Dynamics
Located in rural Tauranga, Equine Dynamics offers results-driven Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programmes. EAL is an educational, experiential approach to human development that encourages individual and team growth. Participants engage in objectively driven exercises, working through obstacles as a team with the horse, all designed with a specific objective or goal. This hands-on, fun, and exciting atmosphere fosters the learning of valuable life skills.
What We Offer –
Psychosocial Abilities: We focus on psychosocial abilities or life skills that enable individuals to manage their behaviours and relationships in various settings, learning valuable skills such as self-confidence, healthy boundaries, resiliency, awareness, and effective communication.
• Teamwork and Leadership: Our exercises are developed to encourage teamwork and leadership, helping participants to navigate through life’s transitions and build valuable relationships.
• Customised Programmes: Tailored to meet the needs of at-risk youth and families, alongside organisations, our programmes are designed to leave participants empowered and prepared to face their challenges.
Why Horses?
Horses are intuitive animals that respond to human behaviour and emotions, making them excellent partners for learning and personal growth. By building a relationship with a horse and learning to communicate through body language, participants gain insights into their own behaviours and develop crucial life skills such as trust, respect, and honesty.
Our Impact –
• Empowerment: Participants leave our programmes with increased self-confidence and a set of practical skills they can apply in their daily lives.
• Community Engagement: We create an environment where kids and youth can socialise, build self-confidence, and challenge themselves, leading to improved behaviours and reduced anxiety levels.
• Support for Families: Our family programmes help improve family dynamics by teaching tools for dealing with emotional dysregulation and fostering a connected family unit.
Our Commitment –
At Equine Dynamics, we believe that every person has the potential to thrive, regardless of the challenges they may face. We are dedicated to providing life-changing experiences designed to help our community thrive. By partnering with horses, we help youth and families develop the skills they need to overcome obstacles and create a brighter future.
As a qualified Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator with a 20-year background in social services and mental health, I have a lifelong passion for horses. I love sharing the therapeutic benefits of Human-Animal Interactions (HAI) through my business.
In 2022, I trained with Equine Connection – The Academy of Equine Assisted Learning, gaining certification and essential business skills. This training laid the foundation for Equine Dynamics, a venture dedicated to providing therapeutic equine-assisted learning programmes. Equine Dynamics is built around three unique horses, each imparting life lessons and skills that inspire and challenge participants to reach their full potential.
Discount: 20% off a programme of 5 or more sessions.
Donations for referrals: 10% off if the referred organisation signs up for a programme of 5 or more sessions.
Please phone, email, text/message or complete our website enquiry form.
What Can Horses Teach Us?
By building a relationship with a horse and learning to communicate through body language, participants can gain invaluable skills such as leadership, teamwork, clear communication, safe boundaries, trust, respect, and honesty. Horses empower us to develop inner leadership and confidence through experiential learning, making the process fun, interactive, and uniquely effective.
Testimonials:
• Youth Development IBA Programme: “Youth Development IBA programme has attended a number of sessions with Equine Dynamics. Leanne is amazing at navigating high needs groups and keeping structure. We are a pre-employment programme and students excelled at working around ideas of teamwork, communication, self-awareness, and trust with Tommy. It’s a hands-on experience, and the reflection from students at the end was deep and insightful. When a student tells you that working with Tommy has made them trust again, it’s a great feeling that walls can be broken down in just a few sessions. I would highly recommend this programme and I am looking forward to seeing Tommy in 2024!!” – Naomi
• Family Programme Participant: “I signed myself and my son, who has high functioning ASD, ADHD, and ODD, onto the Equine Dynamics Assisted Learning Program for mother/son, followed by the family herd program for mum, dad, and son. It has been the best program we’ve ever done and we’ve been on a few. It has made a real impact on our family life. We have continuous challenges at home with aggression, lack of respect, uncontrollable impulses, emotional dysregulation, and generally an unhappy environment because of the ongoing challenges. Leanne and her horses are amazing teachers, providing tools to help us and our son recognize and understand how to deal with his emotional dysregulation and function as a connected family unit. We will always have huge challenges, but this has gone a long way in helping us and our family. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” – Helen
Why Our Business is a Hero: Making a Real Difference
At the heart of our business lies a deep commitment to social good, seamlessly woven into our entire business model. Our mission is not only to drive profits and productivity but also to advance social conditions in our community. We believe that a business can be both profitable and socially responsible, making a tangible impact while thriving economically.
We have established robust connections within our community, exemplified through various initiatives and partnerships.
Our commitment to the community goes beyond financial support. We actively engage with our clients and community members through various activities.