EQUINE WELLBEING COACHING - Welcome to a gentle, powerful approach to supporting your child’s emotional wellbeing through Equine Wellbeing Coaching.
At Old Town Riding School, our Equine Wellbeing sessions offer children and young people a calm, outdoor space to connect with horses and nature — grounded in safety, presence, and care. These are not riding lessons, therapy, or counselling. There is no pressure to talk, no need to perform, and no expectation to do anything other than simply be.
What is Equine Wellbeing Coaching?
Equine Wellbeing Coaching is a non-clinical, trauma-informed, child-led approach to emotional wellbeing. Rooted in somatic (body-based) practices and connection with animals, it creates space for young people to process emotions, rebuild confidence, and explore their identity at their own pace.
This approach is:
- Not therapy or counselling, but often deeply therapeutic in effect
- Not horse riding lessons — all activities are groundwork-based
- Non-judgemental, non-directive, and completely pressure-free
Sessions are designed to meet your child exactly where they are, both emotionally and developmentally, without expectation or demand.
What Happens in a Session?
Every session is unique and guided by your child’s comfort and readiness. Activities may include:
- Gentle, grounding interaction with horses (such as grooming, leading, or quiet observation)
- Mindful, sensory-based activities in nature
- Opportunities to explore feelings through calm, non-verbal connection
- Quiet time with animals — simply being present
Sessions are held with emotional safety at the centre. Your child does not need any previous horse experience to attend.
What Your Child May Gain
Through these sessions, children are gently supported to explore:
- Managing emotions such as anxiety, anger, grief, or overwhelm
- Understanding and expressing their identity
- Setting boundaries and learning about consent
- Rebuilding trust in themselves and others
- Building confidence, self-esteem, and emotional regulation
- Navigating friendships and healthy relationships
Therapeutic Resources
To support emotional growth and reflection, we offer access to a growing library of beautifully designed therapeutic workbooks and activity sheets. These resources are thoughtfully created to introduce key topics in an accessible, creative, and empowering way.
Topics include:
- Managing big feelings and emotions
- Grief, change, and loss
- Mindfulness and grounding practices
- Boundaries and consent
- Self-esteem and identity
- Building confidence
- Friendships and healthy relationships
These resources are entirely optional and are only introduced when appropriate, in a way that feels safe and supportive. They may be used during sessions or taken home to explore in your child’s own time.
Why Horses?
Horses are highly sensitive and emotionally attuned animals. They do not judge, diagnose, or place expectations. Instead, they:
- Respond to energy, emotion, and intention
- Offer honest, non-verbal feedback
- Reflect our inner emotional world with clarity and compassion
In the presence of horses, many children feel seen without feeling scrutinised — allowing them to explore their inner world with a sense of safety and freedom.
Who Is It For?
Equine Wellbeing Coaching is suitable for children and young people who may be:
- Experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or grief
- Struggling with confidence, friendships, or social anxiety
- Processing change, trauma, or difficult life events
- Finding traditional therapeutic settings overwhelming or inaccessible
- In need of a calm space to reconnect with themselves
Many families come to us after other types of support haven’t quite felt right. These sessions offer a different approach — one that trusts in connection, co-regulation, and presence to support meaningful emotional growth.
About Laura
Laura is a qualified and accredited Equimotional Wellbeing Coach, registered with the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM) and the Institute of Training and Occupational Learning (ITOL).
She combines a deep understanding of emotional development with many years of experience working closely with children and animals. With a calm, compassionate presence, Laura creates a space where each child feels safe, respected, and supported.
A Gentle Path Forward
If you are looking for a supportive space where your child can:
- Regain a sense of calm
- Rebuild confidence
- Connect authentically with themselves and the world around them
...…then Equine Wellbeing Coaching may be the gentle path you’ve been seeking.
Get in Touch
To book a session or find out more:
📞 Call Laura on 07815 981534
📧 Email: lauraking@oldtownridingschool.co.uk