Building student resilience through equine therapy at St Peter’s Primary School, Port Macquarie

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St Peter’s Primary School, Port Macquarie, has implemented a fantastic six-week equine wellbeing program for students. (August 2023)

St Peter's Primary School, Port Macquarie, implemented an amazing short-term equine therapy program for students from Years 1 to 6. Throughout May, the program covered different wellbeing areas through interactions with horse Scruffy and Shetland pony Minnie but did not include riding them.

This unique six-week program is the passion project of School Counsellor Katie Files, who worked hard to undergo the appropriate training in equine therapy and secure the $17,633 NSW and Australian Government Disaster Recovery Grant. 

‘The equine-assisted wellbeing program has been a rewarding project that I am so grateful to have been able to deliver in the school setting. It has been a joy to see the children understand and put into practice the targeted skills of awareness, boundaries, thoughts, feelings, healthy relationships and facing challenging situations in an experiential environment. My hope is that these skills will help them as they progress into their future,’ said Katie. 

The program has already deeply impacted students who look forward to their once-a-week interaction with the animals, forming close bonds with the animals, leaving each session feeling calmer and looking forward to school. 

‘I have received positive feedback from parents and teachers that students who were struggling to turn up to school now look forward to their time with the horses, which in turn assists them to be more settled and ready for learning and social situations,’ said Principal Tess Koning. 

‘I look forward to Thursday when I can meet Scruffy. He is very funny and soft to touch. I leave each session feeling a lot calmer,’ said Year 4 student Milla.

The grant has allowed Forty students from St Peter’s Primary to participate in the program. Congratulations to the staff of St Peter’s on providing their students with this unique school experience.