7 Signs of Progress in Equine-Assisted Service

Learning With Horses

Horses Connect founders, Mary and Eileen are firm believers in the transformative power of horses. In 2015, we opened the Horses Connect stables just outside Galway City to work with individuals experiencing a wide range of physical, intellectual, mental health and other challenges. The aim is to help each person grow through meaningful and guided interaction with horses.

Over time, we’ve expanded our work to include team building and personal development programmes for adults. Each session is guided by a coach and supported by volunteers. The intention is to create an opportunity for an enjoyable learning experience at a level appropriate to the client.

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What We Do

Learning Through Horses

Equine-assisted learning for children and adults with a wide range of challenges including ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression and physical disabilities.

Simple caring tasks like grooming a large animal builds self-trust and helps to teach responsibility and empathy. Fun activities like hunting for treasures with the horse builds both physical strength and a sense of leadership.

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Team Days

Our development days offer a powerful, hands-on experience for individuals or groups. You will work through a series of guided stories with our therapy horses building communication and fostering confidence and leadership.

No riding is involved. All sessions are on the ground with our experienced therapy horses.

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Certify As A Coach

This practical course will give you the skills and certification to work through horses to develop clients’ physical, intellectual, emotional, and social health through both Therapeutic Horse-Riding (TR) and Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL).

You will complete 1 day per week supervised learning at our stable in Galway (22 days in total) and 5 creative assignments.

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Our Trainers

Eileen Bennett

Coach, Facilitator & Course Creator

Eileen is a co-founder and training course-creator at Horses Connect. She believes that genuine connection, attention to detail, and the power of story are the keys to deep and lasting personal or professional change. She brings years of experience working with both people and horses, along with qualifications in Leadership, Managing People, Mindfulness, and a Post-grad in Mental Health Promotion. Eileen helps participants see themselves in a new light — reflected in the honest responses of the horses.

Mary Mitchell

Equine-Assisted Coach and Facilitator

Mary is the co-founder of Horses Connect, whose life-long passion for horses and deep understanding of human nature inspire participants to discover their inner strengths. Her wealth of experience and extensive knowledge of horses provides unique insights into how best to work with them to create learning opportunities for clients of all ages and abilities. Mary’s qualifications and skills as a Special Needs Assistant and a BHS coach ensures that Horses Connect is always a welcoming, friendly and inclusive place.

O’Malley

Smart and intuitive

O’Malley is a retired riding school pony, and is the smallest ridden member of the Horses Connect 4-legged team. He's a Welsh pony, about 12hh, in his mid 20's. O'Malley has been the starter pony for a lot of Horses Connect little riders. He came to us with bad laminitis, which is now being kept well under control thanks to diet, exercise, supplements, our brilliant farrier. He is the only member of the 4 -legged team to wear shoes. O’Malley is really smart and intuitive. He takes great care of his riders, and is very partial to plenty of TLC.

Buddy

A big sweetheart

Buddy is our gentle giant. He’s a full Irish Draught, born in 2000. He’s over 17hh and weighs in at a massive 1800lbs! Buddy has lived in County Galway for his whole life. His career started in a local riding school where his favourite activity was beach rides! He then spent a few years hunting, until age and injury ended that career in 2021 and he came to Horses Connect. Although he is very big, Buddy is a real sweetheart and loves nothing more than cuddles and scratches.

Richie

Curious and full of fun

Richie is a full bred Connemara Pony. He was destined for a career with the Connemara Equestrian Escapes trekking team before a serious accident changed the direction of his life, and he came to Horses Connect. He now has a very important job as a member of the Horses Connect 4-legged team, where he is involved in Therapeutic Horse-riding and Equine-assisted Learning sessions. Richie is kind, calm and full of fun. He is curious and mischievous, and makes everyone smile with his antics.