Equine Assisted Counselling & Life Coaching

CONNECT • COMMUNICATE • CREATE

Kia Ora,

In May, 2023, I moved home to New Zealand, after living in Vancouver, Canada for 23 years, and I am offering counselling and equine assisted sessions in the Hawkes Bay area. On Dec 1, 2024, I became an approved ACC Sensitive Claims Service Provider (The Sensitive Claims Service provides support, assessment, and treatment services for Kiritaki (clients) who have experienced sexual abuse or assault covered by the Accident Compensation Act 2001 and have a mental injury caused by that act of sexual abuse or assault). I am available for new client referrals in two locations, in Hastings township or on the farm in a tranquil nature setting (25 minutes south).

My purpose is guiding others into healthier and happier ways of ‘being’ in this world. This includes increasing resiliency by expanding one’s window of tolerance to weather the ebbs and flows through self-regulation, connection and relationship. My equine partners do this naturally, so working from a trauma-informed perspective, I prioritize establishing safety and trust, by providing a non-judgemental, nurturing environment.

The experience of working with horses is all about relationship with self and with another being. It requires an awareness of attunement to another through connection, boundaries (yours and theirs), an opportunity to explore sensory awareness, as well as skill in interpreting body language. Such a connected healthy relationship demands curiosity and courage as well as vulnerability, plus the ability to ask for what you need.

Horses are sentient beings which means they are “able to experience feelings,” “responsive to or conscious of sense impressions,” and “capable of feeling things through physical senses.” Sentient beings experience wanted emotions like happiness, joy, and gratitude, and unwanted emotions in the form of pain, suffering, and grief. Non-human animals, including all mammals and birds, and many other creatures, including octopuses, also possess these neurological substrates. The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness.

Just like us, horses need love, authentic language and freedom to express. We regulate through connection and being with a horse either grooming, leading or at liberty play will take these powerful, insightful concepts and anchor them into your entire being.

Welcome to the world of ‘Partnering with Horses’ to learn more about ‘Who You Are’ in relationship to self and others. An enriching equine experience where “Relationship is the vehicle for change” (Natural Lifemanship).

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The Wild Herd – Mātai, Aroha & Skye.

“I partner with horses because they communicate from a body-heart-mind connection, something I believe is a lost communication in this world. Being a “prey” animal requires them to be fully aware of their environment at all times, and able to read the body language and intention of another being from a great distance. The instant response feedback from their actions provides us information, making us “check in” with how we are showing up, bringing us to a state of self-awareness and present moment interactions, as this is how horses are. They just are. Right here, right now. When we choose to consciously pay attention, we hear and understand so much more about ourselves and the people around us. Imagine if we could bring this awareness into our everyday relationships. How much better would your life be?” Penelope.

The Beautiful “Skye”.
Photo Credit: Shani Hughes @ Parkhill Stables Gypsys

“For horses, emotions are not ‘good’ or ‘bad’. They recognize that emotions are information, always useful for staying safe and keeping us right with the world. Horses are uncomfortable when emotions are suppressed, ignored or masked.”

Quote from Linda Kohanov

“The horse’s response to your body language, your energy, your mental state, your thoughts…is unbelievably far beyond your human being.”

Quote from Jonathan Field

“If we are to understand our relationship with the horse, we must first understand the relationship we have with the entire animal kingdom, The human species, directly or indirectly, affects all other species on the planet, even those species we don’t directly come in contact with. every one of our actions affects all living things, and therein lies our responsibility to the natural world. Native Americans understood this. They held at their core the belief that all species are related. They also understood that a certain level of awareness must take place before we can truly communicate with that which is all around us.”

Quote by GaWaNi Pony Boy “Horse, Follow Closely”.

“Patience, kindness, thoughtfulness, showing respect, compassion, empathy. Be authentic.”

Quote by Franklin Levinson’s “Way of the Horse”.

What I Offer

Equine Assisted Counselling or Life Coaching
Equine Assisted Counselling (EAC) or Life Coaching is the experience of equine/human interaction in a safe environment of learning and self discovery while being supported by a registered professional counsellor and life coach.

My style of counselling or coaching is very eclectic and person-centered. I may use a combination of techniques in a session, drawing from Relational & Attachment Based Theory, Mindful-Awareness Practices, Animal & Nature-Based Therapies, Strengths-Based Perspective, as well as provide some Psycho-education (if relevant), and integrate Somatic Experiencing®.

My hope is to empower you to discover how to ‘respond’ to life from an aware, whole, and fully present place. Our ‘senses’ are our first language, so by tapping into them and growing their capacity, we gain greater awareness to what is happening around us. With this gained self-awareness, one can learn to build up their resilience, reawaken ones ‘senses’, set attainable goals, gain confidence and ultimately become the masters of their own lives.

Counselling with horses is unlike any regular counselling that you might attend in rooms or private practice. The difference is that horses can participate in the experience, alongside myself, a registered counsellor. Horses are highly effective communicators through their honest expression and empathy for people.

The sessions may include activities such as observing equines from across a fence; discussing herd behaviour or equine psychology, grooming, simple leading exercises, liberty, present moment and body awareness activities. All interactions with horses come from a mutual and consensual relationship and they are able to express themselves spontaneously and freely through their actions and reactions. Nothing is forced, only invited. No horse or riding experience is required. My horses are untrained.

Please wear comfy clothing & closed toe boots, bring carrots (Optional! For the horses) and an open-heart.

*note: EAC or EFW is a therapeutic experience and is not intended to initiate or replace professional diagnosis and or treatment.
Youth Equine Assisted Counselling or Life Coaching
Today’s world is full of such overwhelm and challenges for our young people. The expectancy of academic school, disruption in the home life, and the pressure of peers can bring forth fear and high anxiety, making the world seem like a tough and scary place. A session with the horses in a supportive, non-judgmental, safe haven environment can help provide take-home tools to use in everyday situations to help our young cope. A typical session may include observing the herd, how our body language affects the horses, tuning into nature/environment, grooming, horse leading, and relational-based horsemanship skills. Great for building confidence! My horses are not started under saddle so no riding involved.
Equine Assisted Movement / Therapeutic Riding
Research shows that clients who participate in equine assisted therapy can experience physical, emotional and psychological rewards. The horses working walk mimics the human walk, therefore providing improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength and on an emotional level the relationships formed with the team (horses and volunteers) provide increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. The horse possesses motor and emotional, neuro-sensitive stimulation qualities never equaled by a machine and offers 110 multidimensional movements by impulsion every minute. No therapist, no matter how motivated or talented, can compete with this quality stimulation. The client is lead by a horse leader and does not influence the horse but rather the movement of the horse stimulates postural and muscular reactions. A doctors or physio referral is required.
- Please note: This service is not being offered at this time, due to my horses are untrained and are in-training at present.
Horse - Human Connection Therapy
Are you not able to connect or attune to your horse? Did you both have a traumatic event? Did you fall off your horse and now feel anxious? Is your horse checked out or appears depressed?

I can assist you and your horse to “re” connect again, by working with you together. This will be an educational experiential experience of learning to recognize signals from your horse’s nervous system in relation to your own. This work requires one to slow down and start to notice how one shows up in the moment.

This is not behaviour training, natural horsemanship, riding skills or any other training method. This IS about becoming trauma informed through mammal to mammal relational repair.

If you are wanting the Horse – Human Connection session, I will travel to your barn.

Your Counsellor / Life Coach

Penelope_Harper-life-coaching-equine-assisted-coaching

Your Counsellor / Life Coach, Penelope.

Please note: As of Dec 1, 2024, I am an approved ACC Sensitive Claims Service Provider.

* Verified by Psychology Today

The Handsome “Mātai”.

My Life Purpose.

Growing up in New Zealand on 500 acres, my love of horses started at a young age of 3 when my family found me on the back of an untrained horse in a nearby field. I was drawn to the majestic beauty and nurturing nature of the horse early and got my first pony when I was 7. “Goldie”, an older Palomino gelding, was the first of many strong bonds I forged with my horses. I completed my Pony Club C+ and collected many ribbons at local pony club shows and gymkhanas.

My professional career in graphic design in television (I worked for TV3 and TV4 between 1992 – 1999 in New Zealand) led me to travel and work in Vancouver, Canada in 1999. I worked for KVOS TV television up until 2015 after the station was sold to METV, which catapulted me into a dramatic career shift. During that time, I was also raising a neurodivergent daughter as a single parent which had its challenges with the public school system. With not many options for supporting my daughter, I learned of a program that provided a year of incredible support for both child and parent through “The Childrens Foundation” in Vancouver. One of the activities they did was how to learn to care for horses, while developing empathy and leadership skills. It was through this program that my love for horses rekindled and I saw how they can be a huge part in healing and growth. I started to study horse people like Jonathan Field, Chris Irwin, the Parelli’s, Warwick Schiller, where I learnt more about natural horsemanship skills, and I read all of Linda Kohanov’s books (the equine facilitated learning pioneer). These people inspired me to make my second career all about partnering with horses in some way. Since then, I have taken a little from all these horse-people that I think works well and created my own style. I have found I appreciate (Freedom Based training) and GaWaNi PonyBoy, as their style is of relational horsemanship, and it is the most attuned, intuitive and instinctual.

In 2016 I obtained a diploma in Life Coaching which fed my need to provide support as a helper to others. From there I combined my coaching work with therapeutic riding from CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association) as well as movement therapy and pilates on horseback (in 2005 I completed a 750 hour pilates teacher training and taught part-time while I worked in TV). But I didn’t stop there. My thirst for knowledge led me to becoming a Registered Professional Counsellor in 2022, to deepen my work as a helper. During my internship, I gained experience volunteering for KidsHelpLine as a crisis responder and Moving Forward Family Services; a low income counselling service in Surrey, BC.

Since re-joining the world of horses and humans, I have been involved with EAL equine assisted learning and EFW equine facilitated wellness programs in Metro Vancouver. As well as working for STaRS; Southlands Therapeutic Riding Society, where I have worked for the last 7 years, I also worked part-time as a facilitator with The Urban Horse Project; UHP is the first in Metro Vancouver offering a well-researched, leading-edge, objectives-driven program for youth providing hands-on activities with horses to promote self-discovery, and build their skills and resiliency.

In 2020 when COVID crippled the world, trauma became a buzz word. I discovered Somatic Experiencing® and EQUUSOMA® (Horse-Human Trauma Recovery) which has shaped how I live my life and work with humans and horses . Working from a trauma-informed perspective, I prioritize establishing safety and trust, by providing a non-judgemental, nurturing environment. This combination with Counselling and Life Coaching has become my purpose.

In May 2023, after 23 years living in Vancouver, Canada, I am excited to have moved back to Aotearoa, New Zealand with my daughter, to continue my work in counselling and partnering with horses. I am the proud guardian/owner of 3 beautiful pinto/gypsy cob horses, Mātai, Skye and her filly Aroha. My wild horse family.

My trainings and accreditations are listed below:

ISSC ACC Counsellor Provider;

NZAC Registered Counsellor – Provisional Membership;

Registered Professional Counsellor with Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA);

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) training (3 year training completed October 2024); A Body-Mind Approach to Healing Trauma & Chronic Stress and Increasing Resilience (Peter Levine);

Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor through CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association);

Accredited ACC Professional Life Coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF);

Certified Equine Interaction Professional in Education (CEIP-ED) with The Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (CBEIP – provides independent, profession-wide certification to those who work with horses in mental health or in learning service);

Certified in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) through Cartier Farms Equine Assisted Learning Centre;

Completed the EQUUSOMA® Fundamentals training I & II (Human-Horse Trauma Recovery) with Sarah Schlote; Also I have joined Sarah Schlote and her team with EQUUSOMA® (Horse-Human Trauma Recovery) as a ‘shadow’ assistant in her International trainings. Sarah is the founder of EQUUSOMA® Horse-Human Trauma Recovery, a training model with licensing approval from Somatic Experiencing® International that focuses on understanding horses and humans from an ethological, attachment and neuroscience-informed perspective;

PRO-EFW Level 2 Foundations training with Deborah Marshall (Vancouver Island);

Level 1 training with Natural Lifemanship Institute (Core fundamentals training) with Bettina Shultz-Jobe and Tim Jobe; Trauma-Focused Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Trauma-Informed Equine-Assisted Learning.

Contact

Book NOW for a 15 minute FREE Intro Session phone call by clicking email button below.

I will respond as soon as I can. I look forward to talking with you, Warmly, Penelope

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Need help right now?

If you are in crisis, the Emergency Mental Health Services (EMHS) number in Hawkes Bay is 0800 112 334.

If you need further support, please contact Need to Talk? 1737 Free call or txt anytime 24/7.

A guide to connecting with nature

The Lovely “Aroha”.
Photo Credit: Shani Hughes @ Parkhill Stables Gypsys

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Quote from C.S. Lewis

“Individuals locked in anxiety or rage then relax into a growing sense of peace and safety. Those stuck in depression gradually find their feelings of hopelessness and numbness transformed into empowerment, triumph, and mastery. SE™ trauma resolution catalyzes corrective bodily experiences that contradict those of fear and helplessness. This resets the nervous system, retorts inner balance, enhances resilience to stress, and increases people’s vitality, equanimity, and capacity to actively engage in life.”

Somatic Experiencing® International

“Penelope is a wonderful counsellor. She is incredibly perceptive and attentive with her clients – she has an amazing talent for knowing exactly how much to give and take with each person. Penelope offers a calm, engaged, and understanding atmosphere during her sessions. She is kind and caring and goes above and beyond for each person. You are a lucky person if you cross paths with Penelope! I would absolutely recommend her and her counselling services.”

Nicole Williamson, Ph.D.

“My work with Penelope in the past 2 years has been a remarkable journey of healing. With her playful nature, and compassionate guidance, I eased myself out of self-doubt, anxiety, and painful trauma symptoms stuck in my body and mind. Sessions with Penelope are full of brave exploration, reflection, and some deep, enlightening moments. She is a gifted and intuitive healer, drawing from the best resources in the trauma healing and personal growth fields, including Gestalt and Somatic Experiencing. Her presence, together with the horses, brings light and goodness into the world.”

W.K