Case Study: Horse Sense – Transforming Lives Through Equine Therapy
A Local partnerships focused on strength based Community Development.
Quick Stats & Impact
Core Goal: Improving emotional intelligence (EI) and academic engagement through non-verbal connection.
Target Audience
Students with ASD, ADHD, severe anxiety, or trauma histories.
School Profile
High-disadvantage SFOE rating; 45% of students supported by wellbeing services.
Program Length
We build with clarity, act with integrity, and always stay curious.
The 6-Week Journey
Week 1-2 - Connection & Belonging
Finding purpose and understanding the importance of the "herd" (community).
Week 3-4 - Regulation & Awareness
Recognizing fight/flight triggers and building emotional intelligence.
Week 5-6 - Trust & Moving Forward
Overcoming obstacles and applying "Walk On" skills to real-world challenges.
The Challenge & The Solution.
The Challenge: Compounding Disadvantage
Bayswater Secondary College supports a student body where 15% have formal diagnoses (ASD, ADHD, ODD, Dyslexia), with many more experiencing "invisible" challenges.
Complexities like family violence, homelessness, and mental health crises often make traditional classroom learning inaccessible.
The Solution: Why Equine Assisted Learning?
Unlike traditional therapy, Horse Sense uses ground-based interaction with rescue horses to provide immediate, non-judgmental feedback.
Therapeutic Pillars
N.
NoticeBecoming aware of what is present — in yourself and in the horse.
N.
NameGiving language to feelings reduces their hold and builds self-awareness.
N.
NormaliseUnderstanding that difficult emotions are a shared human experience.
N.
NurtureTaking deliberate, caring action — for the horse, and for yourself.
Emotional Regulation
Students must calm their own nervous systems to interact with sensitive prey animals. The horse responds honestly — and that honesty becomes the learning.
The 4 Ns Framework
Participants learn to Notice, Name, Normalise, and Nurture their emotions — a structured, repeatable process for working through difficult internal states.
Mirroring Stories
Students care for rescue horses with their own histories of recovery. The shared experience of carrying scars — and healing from them — creates a powerful, unspoken connection.
Outcomes
Bolstered Resilience Shifting internal dialogue from "I can't" to "I can."
Social Connection Improved capacity for empathy and building healthy "villages" of support.
Academic Bridge Reducing school-based anxiety to facilitate better classroom attendance and focus.
"This is not just an extracurricular activity; it is a critical intervention for our most vulnerable young people. It helps them find their voice and their value."
— Melanie, Mental Health Practitioner at a Victorian Secondary School
Ready to transform your student outcomes?
Contact our Program Coordinator today to book a site visit or request our School Leader Engagement Pack.
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Provide high-impact support for Tier 3 students (ASD, ADHD, and trauma-affected).
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See immediate improvements in student attendance and internal resilience.
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We provide the expertise, the horses, and the therapeutic curriculum—you provide the students.