Equine Assisted Therapies at Team Tutsham
Non ridden Equine Assisted Therapies. Where nature, horses and skilled clinical practice come together.
For many children, young people and their families, this way of working is far easier and more accessible than traditional Therapy within a health or education setting. The natural environment, freedom to move and gentle presence of the horses can reduce pressure and help with regulation. This can make it easier when expressing thoughts and feelings, while encouraging motivation and engagement in exploring different therapeutic activities.
The shepherd’s hut provides a warm, calm and welcoming indoor space with beautiful views when talking therapy or quieter reflection is needed – but much of our work naturally unfolds outside alongside the horses, where connection, sensory experience and movement support therapeutic engagement.
What We Offer
We offer bespoke individual or small group Equine Assisted Therapy and Occupational Therapy for under 18s.
These therapeutic interventions support:
- Emotion identification and regulation
- Emotion based school avoidance
- Disability
- Neurological disorders
- Developing life skills
- Social communication
- Healthy relationships and boundaries
- Confidence
- Self esteem
- Sensory needs
- Neurodivergence
- Mental health
- Challenging life experiences/trauma
We are passionate about working in a person centred, trauma informed, neuro-affirmative way. The interventions are co-created with the young person and their family/carer to ensure they are meaningful and useful.
Who Delivers The Sessions?
Dr Amalia Gasson. Clinical Psychologist (DClinPsy) (HCPC PYL28670)
Sharon Neave. Specialist Neuro and Paediatric Occupational Therapist (HCPC OT75027), RCOT BT0254898
Melanie Buyukoglu. Occupational Therapist and Equine Assisted Therapy Assistant.
Together, we bring a blend of clinical expertise, warmth and a deep respect for the healing potential of horses and nature.
What A Session Looks Like
Talking in a Therapy setting can be challenging for lots of young people, We have a range of ways to support communication like drawing, writing, using communication or picture cards to reduce pressure.
The sessions are led by the young person so they decide where they want to be based and have choice over the activities.
Often we start and end in the Shepherd’s Hut for about ten minutes. We start by choosing the topic we are focusing on that session and we look at some simple information about the topic. We talk about the horse based activity that we will do for that session – some examples are;
- Going for a walk with the horse and using it to explore the ways the horses communicate emotions and regulate, relating it to ourselves
- Grooming
- Using the sand school for activities like building an obstacle course for us and the horse
The sessions also incorporate emotion regulation or grounding strategies like a senses based mindfulness exercise to help add to the young person strategies.
A key aspect of therapy is supporting meaningful change and there may be worksheets and exercises we encourage the young person and their carers to complete between sessions of f appropriate to put the skills into practice and notice impact and barriers.
At the end of the work the young person and therapist creates a summary of what we have done with recommendations that may help others supporting them such as schools.
For more information, feel free to email contact@steadystridestherapy.co.uk or use the contact page to send us a message.