One Equine

24/10/2026

Will you be joining us for our October Webinar next week?! We promise you do not want to miss "Bridging the gap: How can collaboration between research and practice advance animal-assisted services?"🐕‍🦺

In anticipation, allow us to introduce our second panelist.👋 A very familiar face to the IAHAIO community, meet Prof. Dr Karin Hediger.

Dr. Hediger is full professor of Child and Adolescent Psychology at the University of Lucerne. After studying psychology at the University of Zurich, she completed her doctorate at the University of Rostock (Germany) in 2012 and habilitated at the University of Basel in 2021, where she was an assistant professor from 2021 to 2024. In 2020, Karin Hediger was appointed professor by the Open University in Heerlen (Netherlands) and has been affiliated with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute since 2017. She has also worked as a psychotherapist since 2011. Karin Hediger's research focuses on clinical psychology and intervention research with a clear focus on animal-assisted intervention.🐕

Join Dr. Hediger and IAHAIO on Oct. 29th at 12pm EST for our October Webinar.💚

24/10/2026

My followers are slowly climbing here on Facebook! I'm very grateful to everyone that does take the time to hit that follow button 😁. A particular shout out to my local folks, those of you in Northern Ireland and particularly those within County Down 🥰.

Please do tell your friends and hit that follow button, so that you're up to date with any classes, courses or workshops.

But also do it so you can tell your friends that if they need help with their horse, they can give me a call.

I've been giving advice on equine behaviour and related issues since 2003, I'm not just a book reading academic, it isn't all theory, I've been working hands on in the horse industry for over 25 years, I've good solid practical training skills and experience of a wide variety of horses, from foals to ferals to fancy pants competition horses!

I would love local people to know that if they have a problem they can call me for solid advice with both practical and theoretical underpinning.

I also have a library of video lessons and offer online sessions too, so you don't have to be local to benefit from my experience!!

I've run my business for years successfully on word of mouth recommendations, which I'm very grateful for. But in this day and age, social media does help. So please, tell your friends, ask them to be kind and give me a follow, or better still, book on to a class, course or workshop, sign up to some of the online courses, book a one to one session or a behaviour consultation. Riding Clubs, Pony Club Branches, livery yards, give me a shout about getting me out to do a talk/ demo.... I'd love to meet you all 🤩🤩!!

Help me keep my small business running and help me continue to improve horse welfare and horse- human relationships 🥰.

23/10/2026

Colorado State University researchers have discovered measurable physiological benefits of horse-assisted occupational therapy, providing new scientific evidence for the remarkable connection between horses and children with autism.

16/10/2026

Beyond Forward Facing: Explore Positioning and Movement in Therapeutic Horsemanship (CPD)

An interactive and experiential CPD day for Therapeutic Riding Coaches to deepen your understanding of movement.


BEYOND FORWARD FACING 🐎

It is not just where we sit. It is how we move. Look again. Feel the difference. Explore the possibilities.

As Therapeutic Riding Coaches, we know that the horse's movement is central to what we do. But how often do we stop to consider how positioning, support and the quality of that movement influence the rider's experience? Join us for an interactive and experiential CPD day that invites you to look beyond familiar approaches, challenge your observations and deepen your understanding of movement.

When: Monday, 16th November: 10.30 am – 3.30 pm

Where: Festina Lente, Old Connaught Ave, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Facilitator: Audrey Darby, Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Cost: €75 pp

Tickets:

https://bit.ly/4hJC3v9

Enquiries: [email protected]

16/10/2026

📢Don’t’ miss these three fabulous Evening Lectures with Mark Robinson BHSI
At RDA Causeway Coast & Glens, BT51 3RW
🐴Each talk is £10 per person
🐴CPD points available for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches
🐴Book your place via the link www.hopoti.com/stable/rdacoleraine

Lecture 1
➡️Your Horse’s Senses “What they see, taste, smell, feel and hear”
Saturday 17 October 2026 at 6.30pm
Learn about the horse’s eye, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
This talk counts as 3 CPD points for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches

Lecture 2
➡️Horse Anatomy and Physiology
Saturday 14 November 2026 at 6.30pm
Learn about the horse’s skeletal system, muscular system, digestive system, respiratory system, circulatory system and the heart.
This talk counts as 2 CPD points for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches

Lecture 3
➡️Developing Rider Confidence
Saturday 12 December 2026 at 6.30pm
Learn about building confidence, good posture, a positive mindset, how to progress, building a partnership and overcoming challenges.
This talk counts as 2 CPD points for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches

Each talk is £10 per person
Book your place via the link www.hopoti.com/stable/rdacoleraine

16/10/2026

It is wonderful to see equine welfare in getting more prominence in mainstream equine media and to see the research in this area being expanded- locally we are very fortunate to currently have weekly lectures from equine behaviouralist Dr Helen Spence BHS Ireland Horse Health days and lectures with Mark Robinson on the Horse’s Senses RDA Causeway Coast & Glens, formerly RDA Coleraine and their webinars on horse psychology - we also have the recently published research from Dr Rita Seery https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rita-Seery Aahep: Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners have kindly shared the link to their https://aahep.uk/apr-policy/accredited-practitioner-register-ethical-treatment-horses which includes reference to key Uk legislation in this area. Internationally you can refer to the HETI - Horses in Education and Therapy International website Horses and Humans Research Foundation and also Iahaio_official website, in particular https://iahaio.org/iahaio-international-guidelines-on-care-training-and-welfare-requirements-for-equines-in-equine-assisted-services/ - as mentioned in the article, Equine Assisted Services Partnership CiC is another resource- hopefully this provides everyone with some useful resources in this area - our webinars have covered all the above so please do check out our YouTube channel to add to your database https://youtube.com/?si=q9MnSpS5xk_L_WBc

A very link heavy post but how wonderful to have so many active collaborations and research projects going on in this key area for

Therapy horses must be treated as ‘active participants’ not ‘therapeutic tools’, finds a recent study. Read full story below

12/10/2026

Join us tomorrow morning from 9:30am Danescroft Equestrian Nicci Hall will be delivering an interactive session exploring autism, individual differences and practical ways to adapt Equine Assisted Services to support participation and engagement.
As always there will be an opportunity to ask questions, discuss real-life situations and share experiences with fellow practitioners. Everyone welcome BHS Ireland

06/10/2026

Local practitioner, Lauren Connected Equines building on her EAL qualification and collaboration opportunities

Delighted to welcome Megan & Niamh from Inspire to deliver their 'Peace of Mind' programme to our MSc students as part of our programme. Welcome back to !

Learn more at: https://www.inspirewellbeing.org/peace-of-mind/