“Beyond a person who has clinical psychology degrees and really cares about helping people, I’m a woman who really loves my horses.”
One of the opening lines at EATA’s 10th Anniversary Conference from keynote speaker and US psychologist Jenn Pagone captured a common sentiment that brought together presenters and attendees from across Australia and overseas for EATA’s inaugural event.
Held last week at the beautiful Selah Valley Estate in the Tweed Valley, the three-day conference welcomed close to 100 guests and featured a line-up of 22 presenters.
Informative presentations explored established therapeutic frameworks, and how they could be integrated with equine-assisted therapy, as well as recent research in the field.
These included frameworks for sustaining and developing clinicians in complex trauma work, neuro-affirming practices in equine-assisted therapy, practical discussions on working with veterans, somatic riding for mental health, as well as a deeply moving presentation on how horses helped create a sense of safety.
Woven throughout the presentations were also the personal journeys.
Many presenters spoke about their relationship with a particular horse that became the catalyst for their own journey into the equine-assisted therapy field.
For Jenn Pagone, it was Casper – a shut-down and alone horse she connected with at a riding school that she eventually decided to buy.
Jenn later discovered the Casper’s owner had died and through her relationship with him, she experienced reliable attunement as well as rupture with repair.
For psychotherapist Brooke Shakspeare, it was her childhood gelding, ‘Kate,’ whose presence shaped not only her childhood but, ultimately, her professional career.
While Dean Mighell, spoke fondly of his close relationship with the horse he bred and raised, which he now works closely with in the therapy sessions he holds.
International voices join the conversation
International leaders in equine-assisted mental health also joined the conference live via Zoom.
Rupert Isaacson explored the neuroscience underpinning The Horse Boy Method which uses rhythmic horse riding, or other movement, and the outdoors to help calm the nervous system and improve regulation, communication, and learning.
Ilka Parent’s presentation ‘The Meeting of Two Worlds’ on an Equine Assisted Trauma Therapy (pEATT) stabilisation-group case, raised important questions such as ‘Are we in conversation and responding to the horse’s observable (concrete) behaviour? Or are we responding mainly to our own experience – and to the meaning we attribute to it?
Leif Hallberg and Dr Rebecca Bailey also joined attendees for live Q&A sessions, sharing their expertise across on wide range of questions – from how interactions with horses can create opportunities for safety, co-regulation and connection, to how appeasement behaviours might present during an equine-assisted mental health session.
Beyond the conference room
Beyond the formal presentations, attendees had the opportunity to take part in a diverse program of experiential workshops, including drumming, guided art meditation, family constellations, and Indigenous jewellery making.
Equine workshops, facilitated by Georgia Rose, explored Elsa Sinclair’s Freedom Based Training and The Masterson Method®.
Aliénor le Gouvello brought along three of her beautiful brumbies, which she acquired from the passive trapping program run by the Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association, to take part in the equine workshops.
Across the conference, attendees also came together through movement and informal conversations, which allowed them opportunities to slow down, connect and experience some of the principles being explored inside the conference room.
And, fittingly for a conference centred on the theme of Community, there was plenty of time simply to be together in the beautiful surrounds of the Tweed Valley.
Celebrating ten years of EATA
For EATA Founder and Director Jane Faulkner, the gathering also marked a significant milestone – ten years since Equine Assisted Therapy Australia began in 2016.
“It was so heartwarming to see so many wonderful people that I have had the privilege of getting to know over the past 10 years.
I learned so much from all of the presentations and loved feeling surrounded by community. I’m very grateful to everyone that contributed to the conference,” Ms Faulkner said.
Over the past decade, EATA has grown from its beginnings on the Gold Coast into a leading, national training organisation in equine-assisted mental health.
The 10th Anniversary Conference offered an opportunity not only to reflect on that journey, but also to look ahead to the continued growth, professionalism, research, and recognition of the equine-assisted mental health field.
And watch this space for next year – the EATA conference could become an annual event on the calendar.
