Herd by Horses NZ - Equine Assisted Development

11/07/2025

🌿 We’ve Moved! 🌿
We’re excited to announce that we’ve now settled into our beautiful new venue at 45 McDonald Road, Levin! This peaceful space is already proving to be a healing haven, surrounded by nature and, of course, our magical herd of horses 🐴💚

A reminder that Gumboot Friday funding is available for young people aged 5–25. This means fully funded interim counselling support through our equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions.

✨ Life Satisfaction nearly triples!
Before counselling, only 28% of Rangatahi rated their wellbeing in the positive range. After counselling that number jumps to 66%. That's the power of the right support - and a reminder that early help can truly change lives. Follow the link below to read more **

🌱 Why does it matter?
Because life satisfaction nearly triples after receiving mental health support. Our sessions take place alongside our horses, who help take the pressure off direct conversation and offer a calming, metaphor-rich experience that speaks straight to the heart.

✨ If you know a young person who could benefit, please reach out. You could be the bridge to the support they’ve been quietly needing. Contact us to see if they qualify for funding.

📩 Message us or email [email protected]
📍 Now based at 45 McDonald Road, Levin

**https://www.iamhope.org.nz/news-and-views/gumboot-fridays-impact-on-youth-mental-health-in-nz?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--7_ZdTgU30Qn5L76ye4bmk9ZZqtTuWf_MGMyGx9o8E5r4DELyYe_ufLlxAx7555sTysoByNozZxMWE864ayiUe5GRmgg&_hsmi=370494350&utm_content=370494350&utm_source=hs_email

Together, we can make a difference 🖤

16/06/2025

🌿2-Day Equine Assisted Wellbeing Workshop for Tamariki and Rangatahi🌿

Fully funded by Gumboot Friday (criteria apply)

Ages: Year 9–13
📍 New Venue! 45 McDonald Road, Levin
🗓️ Monday 30 June and Tuesday 1 July | 🕘 9:00am – 1:00pm
🎟️ Limited to 4 participants

Ages: Year 4-8
📍 New Venue! 45 McDonald Road, Levin
🗓️ Monday 7 & Tuesday 8 July | 🕘 9:00am – 1:00pm
🎟️ Limited to 4 participants

We’re excited to offer a powerful 2-day experience designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of our young people through the healing connection between humans and horses.

Set in a peaceful new location in Levin, this small-group workshop combines professional mental health support with the intuitive presence of horses, offering a safe, non-judgmental space for people to explore emotions, build confidence, and connect with others.

✨ What’s Included:
💬 Wellbeing support from registered counsellor Carolyn Brown
🐴 Equine-assisted activities guided by equine specialist Kelly Henry
💛 Opportunities for connection, growth, and reflection
🌱 A calm, nature-based setting to step away from stress and reconnect

Perfect for young people who may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or just need time and space to reset with support.

📩 To register or find out more, send us a message or email [email protected]

Spots are limited to just 4 participants to ensure each young person gets the care and connection they deserve.

03/06/2025

Meet the Team Behind Herd by Horses 🐴💬

We’re Carolyn and Kelly — the duo behind Herd by Horses, where healing happens through connection, compassion, and the incredible power of the human-animal bond. Read on for info on funding for young people.

👩‍⚕️ Carolyn is a Registered Counsellor with a deep belief in the therapeutic potential of animals, especially horses. With years of experience in mental health and a heart for helping others, she brings a calm, grounded presence to each session.

🐴 Kelly is our Equine Specialist, with a lifelong passion for horses and an intuitive understanding of their behaviour. Her experience and natural connection with horses help create a safe, supportive environment for clients to grow, heal, and thrive.

Together, we offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy sessions that gently support people through a range of mental health challenges — including anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, and more.

Why horses?
Horses are incredibly intuitive beings. They respond to our emotions, reflect our energy, and help us become more aware of ourselves in a non-judgmental way. Their presence alone can regulate the nervous system, build trust, and support emotional growth.

At Herd by Horses, you don’t need to be “horsey” to benefit — just open to connection.

🧠❤️🐎 If you or someone you know could benefit from working with horses for mental health, we’re here. We can apply for funding through Gumboot Friday for people aged 5 - 25 years.

We are located at Waikawa Beach, between Otaki and Levin.

26/03/2025

Making new connections and having the freedom to explore today with a new group.

25/03/2025

🐴Equine-Assisted Well-Being 2-Day Workshops for Young People 🐴

We’re excited to offer equine-assisted well-being 2 day workshops in the April school holidays, designed to support young people navigating mental health challenges. These workshops provide a safe, supportive space where they can build self-confidence, self-esteem, learn some strategies to cope with challenges and develop meaningful connections—with both horses and other young people.

✨ What to Expect:
🌱 Hands-on experiences with our incredible horses - all ground based, no riding
💛 Activities that foster resilience and emotional well-being
🤝 A chance to connect with others in a supportive environment
🌿 Tools to build confidence and self-belief

We have two tailored groups:

🐴 Years 4–8
15th and 16th April
9am - 1pm
A gentle introduction to self-awareness, emotions, and confidence-building through horse-led activities.

🐎 Years 9–13
22nd and 23rd April
9am - 1pm
Deeper exploration into self-esteem, stress management, and personal growth, with a strong focus on connection and empowerment.

These workshops are funded through Gumboot Friday, making them accessible for those who need support. If you know a young person who could benefit, or if you'd like to learn more, send us a message or email. Places are confirmed once funding and paperwork has been completed.

📍 Held at our serene setting at 593 Waikawa Beach Road, Waikawa Beach
📅 Spaces limited. Get in touch to secure a spot! Email us at [email protected]

20/02/2025

18/02/2025

We said farewell to this little guy on Sunday. Ludo we will miss you so much! He's done 3 years of therapy work and been an absolutely amazing. We have so much gratitude for the joy and insights he brought to our clients. Ludo is off to a lease home in Paekakariki to be a paddock mate for another mini, Danny. Danny is already an experienced therapy horse for the elderly and will show Ludo the ropes for his new role. We look forward to seeing Ludo's updates.

16/02/2025

✨ Session Spots Available Next Week! ✨

We’ve had a couple of postponements which means we have some session openings on Wednesday this coming week! If you’ve been thinking about booking in, now is a great time.

Just a reminder that we can offer fully funded equine-assisted therapy through Gumboot Friday for young people aged 5 to 24. If you or someone you know could benefit from a session with our amazing herd, get in touch—we’d love to support you.

Send us a message to book. Spaces won’t last long!

13/01/2025

🌟 2 Day Workshop - Supporting Young Minds Through the Power of Horses 🌟

At Herd by Horses, we’re here to help young people aged 5–24 enhance their well-being and embrace a brighter, more positive outlook on life. If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, we offer a safe and supportive space where horses become co-facilitators in the journey to healing and growth.

Our Equine Assisted Therapy and Psychotherapy sessions focus on building strength, resilience, and connection while encouraging a positive mindset. Through the unique bond with these incredible animals, young people can explore new ways to navigate life’s challenges, gain confidence, and find their inner calm.

💙 Funding is available through Gumboot Friday (as long as this funding hasn't been used previously), to make these transformative sessions more accessible.

📍 If this sounds like something that could help, or if you'd like to learn more, get in touch with us today. Together, we can support the young people in our community to thrive.

Date: Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd January
Time: 9.30am - 1.30pm
Venue: 593 Waikawa Beach Road, Waikawa Beach

Let’s create a space where challenges turn into growth and where young minds can flourish. 🌈



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07/01/2025

ONE SPOT LEFT!

💫🦄Years 9-13 FULLY FUNDED ANXIETY WORKSHOP💫🦄
Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th January 2025
9.30 - 1.30pm each day

Is your teen struggling with anxiety? Join us for a special workshop designed to help young people reconnect with nature, themselves and the calming presence of horses. Our workshop offers a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their feelings, learn valuable coping strategies, and experience the unique connection that comes from working with horses - no riding involved, just meaningful interaction on the ground.
Through guided activities in nature and the calming presence of our horse co-facilitators, we aim to create a space where you teen can feel understood, empowered and more in control of their emotions.
This workshop is fully funded by Gumboot Friday. The criteria is:
* must have a mental health challenge and not currently be receiving help, or are on a waiting list.
* not have received Gumboot Friday funding previously
Spaces are limited to 4. Book your spot today and give your teen the gift of self-confidence and inner peace.

593 Waikawa Beach Road, Waikawa Beach
To register please email [email protected]

20/12/2024

Well that's a wrap from us this year. What an incredible year it's been, especially the last 6 months!

I have endless gratitude for Carolyn (Counsellor) and Caroline (Teacher), and all the amazing work we have done together, helping people overcome challenges in their lives. Thank you so much!

Thank you to all our referrers that send clients our way. Gumboot Friday funding has made such a difference to around 80 people's lives since June as they have come to us for guidance and support in tough times. This funding is invaluable in our community so please support them in any way you can.

Merry Christmas everyone!

(A separate gratitude post will be done for the horses as they deserve their own special mentions too)

Caroline Beaufort

01/11/2024

🌟 A Heartfelt Thank You to Gumboot Friday 🌟

As we reflect on the last couple of years, our hearts are full of gratitude for the incredible support from Gumboot Friday. Thanks to their funding, we’ve been able to bring equine-assisted therapy to over 150+ young people in our community, providing a safe and healing space to support mental health and well-being. 🐴💙

Without this support, reaching these young lives simply wouldn’t have been possible. Each child’s journey with our horses has been made richer through this funding, giving us the means to walk alongside them, witness their resilience, and celebrate their progress.

Please donate to this incredible charity by texting
"boots" to 469 to donate $3.

To everyone involved in Gumboot Friday, thank you for helping us make a difference. Together, we’re building stronger futures, one hoofbeat at a time. 🐾❤️