Equine Assisted Therapy

 We offer Equine Assisted Programmes and Equine Assisted Practitioner training for mental health workers, teachers, coaches, organisations, groups and individuals

We provide the horses and facilities for the equine assisted learning run by our sister organisation, Silent Whispers

Silent Whispers' clients include local authorities and other educational establishments, Mindforce for military personnel, the Tom Harrison House addiction treatment centre for ex-servicemen and individuals.

We also run alternative curriculum courses through the A.Q.A unit award scheme for pupils who for one reason or another cannot attend mainstream education where they can achieve modules in subjects like horse care.

Silent Whispers also runs a training programme for Equine Assisted Facilitators, as we believe this work should be available to all and we want to share our skills. To find out more visit www.silent-whispers.co.uk

As well as this more structured work, just coming to Shy Lowen as a volunteer or even for an ad hoc visit can be therapeutic!

In The Press

Shy Lowen on BBC News


Short video from the BBC about our military veterans from Tom Harrison House's weekly visits to Shy Lowen Horse & Pony Sanctuary for equine therapy.


 

Tom Harrison House


More about Tom Harrison House in Liverpool and their work at Shy Lowen from Forces TV on YouTube.

Shy Lowen on BBC NW

 

 Short video from BBC North West on Facebook about Bernie being recognised for her inspirational work.

Why Horses?

Horses are extraordinary teachers. They see you as you are. They are not fooled by bluff or pretence. They react to mood and intent. In their eyes we are all equal, not even the most famous Liverpool football player would be given special status by a horse!

This means that they provide a superb way of learning self worth and confidence. We teach communications skills, anger management, trust, patience and a range of other social skills through our horses. As always, the participants need to work hard. With no effort or motivation, the horse will not respond. Get it right and the rewards are immediate and true.

This type of learning is ongoing with every individual who comes to us for any period of time. That doesn't mean that everyone who comes here has specific learning needs - it means that horses teach us about ourselves all the time. For those kids who do have a specific need, we ensure that they are given the support and structure they need to grow into the best person they can be.

The Wild Ones

To understand more about how this works, we'd love you to watch the documentary produced for Channel 4 called The Wild Ones. It's very moving, and very Shy Lowen!
VIEW THE WILD ONES ON VIMEO
 “They've got issues, I've got issues, so we sort of relate to each other”
Former serviceman Paul
“I have just completed the Silent Whispers Equine Assisted Facilitators Training and this work is profound. It can get to the truth about a person in a way that talk therapy might miss. Horses read your emotions and reflect them back to you and they never lie.”
Heather Walley
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