OUR FEATURED PROGRAMMES
Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning for Individuals, Families, Groups & Organisations
At Equine Dynamics in rural Tauranga, we offer results-driven programmes where horses serve as both teachers and therapists. Our unique approach supports youth, families, schools, and organisations, offering transformative opportunities for growth, emotional wellbeing, and team development.
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Through Equine-Assisted Therapy and Learning, individuals and groups develop essential life skills such as communication, resilience, leadership, and emotional regulation. Our therapy programmes offer a dynamic alternative to traditional talking therapy, focusing on personal development, growth, self-awareness, and mental wellbeing. Whether you're seeking personal transformation, family connection, or a stronger workplace team, our tailored programmes provide a sustainable toolbox for success.
Individual Programmes
These programmes are designed to help participants grow by teaching essential life skills such as leadership, boundaries, trust, self-awareness and reflection—while building confidence, and improving mental wellbeing alongside a horse. Participants receive tailored support through Equine-Assisted Learning and Therapy, allowing for personal development and growth in a hands-on, empowering environment.
Group & Family Programmes
Our programmes support schools, organisations, teams, and families to strengthen connection, communication, and wellbeing. We tailor each experience to the needs of the group or whanau facing challenges or seeking a meaningful growth opportunity. Participants develop life skills which enhance relationships, improve teamwork, and help overcome barriers to emotional, physical, and social wellbeing
ACC Sensitive Claim Groups
Our ACC therapy groups offer a gentle, supportive pathway for people navigating the impacts of trauma. Grounded in evidence‑based practice and the unique healing presence of horses, these small groups provide a safe space to rebuild confidence, connection, and emotional regulation.
Each programme is facilitated by qualified, trauma‑informed practitioners and designed to meet ACC Sensitive Claims requirements.
Equine Experiences
Our unique Equine Experiences provide a tailored 4 or 6 hour themed programme thoughtfully designed to meet your group, team or organisations needs and objectives. We provide Youth Workshops, Team Building, Wellbeing Programmes and Showcase Events. All of our unique experiences can include your choice of catering, or a BYO picnic, with morning and afternoon tea refreshments provided.
By partnering with horses, you'll learn valuable skills that will empower you long after you leave our arena.
HORSES HELPING OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE
Partnering With the Power of the Horse through Equine Assisted Therapy & Learning!
We believe every person has the potential to thrive, no matter the challenges they face. Through Equine Assisted Learning, we help youth, families, schools and organisations develop the life skills needed to overcome obstacles and create a brighter future. Our Equine Assisted Therapy sessions aim to improve and maintain mental health and wellbeing for individuals, couples and families.
BENEFITS OF OUR LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMMES
Unrivalled Therapy & Learning Programmes For Wellbeing and Personal Growth
At Equine Dynamics, we offer transformative therapy and learning experiences that promote emotional wellbeing, personal development, and life skills. Our programmes are designed to support individuals aged 8 and over to develop essential social and emotional skills—fostering meaningful relationships, adapting to diverse environments, and navigating life’s transitions with confidence.
Through Equine-Assisted Therapy and Learning, participants engage in powerful, hands-on sessions where horses become trusted partners in growth. These interactions cultivate self-awareness, emotional regulation, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills in a safe non-judgmental setting.
Whether you're seeking therapeutic support, personal empowerment, or tools to thrive in everyday life, our horse-led approach equips you with a sustainable skillset for a successful future. The journey is as transformative as the destination—guided by empathy, connection, and the quiet wisdom of our horses.
Safe & Relaxing
Experiential learning in a peaceful rural setting.
Build Confidence
Feel empowered to take on life's hurdles with confidence.
Fun for the Family
Fun, meaningful learning for the whole family!
Toolbox of Life Skills
Leave with an armour of vital skills that apply directly to life.
Communication Skills
Improve communication and social skills while having fun.
Grow, Heal & Thrive!
Develop health, wellbeing and, supportive relationships.
GET IN TOUCH
Let's Connect
If you have any questions, or if you are ready to book, please fill out this contact form and we will reply to you within 24-hours. Thank you!
DEDICATED TO HELPING OUR COMMUNITY
A Life-Changing Experience Designed To Help Communities Thrive
​Through our Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning programmes, we offer a supportive environment where young people, families, teams and groups can build relationships, boost their confidence, challenge themselves, become more resilient and improve emotional and mental wellbeing. We’re dedicated to helping individuals, youth, families, as well as schools and organisations reach their full potential—and we’d love to welcome you into our herd.
Partner With Horses- your Therapists and Teachers
Horses have been helping humans throughout history—supporting us in war, farming, transportation, sport, and recreation. Today, they continue to support us through Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning, helping people grow, heal, and develop essential skills. As highly intuitive and non-judgmental animals, horses respond to body language and energy, making them powerful partners in building skills such as self-awareness, teamwork, leadership, and resilience.
All Skills Transfer Back To Your Life
We not only set our participants up for success in the arena, but we also help them to build an armour of skills that transfer back to everyday life. With the guidance of our amazing horses, participants are able to apply what is learnt in the arena directly to their own lives. The valuable skills learned through these experiential programmes, empower our participants to leave better equipped to face life's challenges with confidence and empowerment.
Guaranteed Outcome Every Time
Through our Fundamental Principles and Form of Delivery, we guarantee consistent, positive outcomes in our Equine Assisted Learning programmes. The skills learned don’t stay in the arena—they are directly applied to everyday life. Each objective is designed to help our participants develop vital life skills such as social, communication and leadership skills, empowering them for a brighter future. How do we know this works? Because it’s proven! See one the research studies here:
Equine dynamics is a wonderful program designed to help a student to learn and implement values and skills, which they can use to guide their behaviour and choices, as they develop and mature.
It is learning outside of the traditional classroom, and taught in a way where a student can apply what they learn with a horse, into their everyday life and situations.
Not only is the learning fun, but it is challenging, informative and rewarding. And you don’t need to know anything about horses before you begin.
It allows for a variety of situations where a student needs to feel, see, touch, hear think and read, along the way and also encourages them to manage their behaviour, their mood, and their intention, in order to reach a goal, with their horse as a valuable team member.
My favourite sessions usually involve watching my daughter manage difficulties, stopping to think, changing the plan that is not working, and asking for help and support when she needs it. Skills that will be imperative as she navigates the teen years.
The program has also been beneficial in helping our parent/daughter relationship develop and strengthen.
It has been wonderful watching my daughter have more awareness of herself (and of myself, as a parent), and see her become more independent and self-confident.
Leanne is a great communicator, has a great “staff” of horses, and is herself a brilliant coach and teacher.
This is a unique program, and one I would highly encourage others to attend.
- Suzy P
WHY WORK WITH HORSES?
Horses See Beneath What Words Conceal
Horses have incredibly keen senses and can immediately detect when our thoughts and emotions are out of sync. They can hear our heartbeat and respond to even the slightest changes within us. As facilitators, the horse allows us to identify moments when you are open to change, so we can help guide you through transformation. Simply put, the horse is the therapist and teacher—we, as facilitators, are there to offer explanation and support as you work through the solution.​ Working with horses creates real-time experiences that leave lasting memories, far more impactful than traditional learning or therapy situations. These experiences can be applied directly to life and are retained much longer.​
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Our Equine Assisted Learning programmes help foster empathy and empowerment while also improving:
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Behavioural challenges
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Confidence
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Bullying issues
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Social skills
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Emotional wellbeing
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Communication skills
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Family dynamics
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Assertiveness​
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Leadership skills
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Teamwork skills
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Soft skills for employment
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​Our Equine Assisted Therapy sessions follow a structured and research-backed approach to therapy. Our therapy programmes benefit individuals, children and teens, families, groups and teams to improve mental health, personal development, social and behavioural skills. Our professional and experienced counsellor, Susan Ricketts, can apply this model to a wide range of issues including:
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Trauma & PTSD
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Victims of violence
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Suicidal ideation & self-harm
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Difficulties with neurodiversity
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Addiction
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Eating disorders
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Emotional regulation
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Stress management
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Behavioral challenges
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Anger management​​
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Each session is tailored to the client’s unique needs, ensuring meaningful and lasting outcomes.​ While everyone can benefit from our skill-building and therapy programmes, we specialise in supporting people facing unique challenges and difficulties, because we know how effective this work is and how much it can help people.
We have been trained by the world renowned Equine Connection - The Academy of Equine Assisted Learning Inc, who certify all over the world through the Academy of Equine Assisted Learning BuildingBlockâ„¢ course. You will see Equine Connection instructors in the videos provided, these will give a better understanding of the value of our programs and workshops.
