About Us

Equine Connections is a marriage of two of my great passions in life; teaching and horses.

I am a qualified teacher with a Master in Education and over a decade’s teaching experience. While much of my teaching career has been spent in middle/intermediate school education, I have taught across all levels within the primary sector and also  have experience in teaching students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
I have spent a lifetime with horses on and off over the last 30 years. A lifestyle change saw my husband, Tony and I move to Taupo in 2013, which presented an opportunity to have horses in my life again. This reignited my awe and deep respect for horses as amazing, sentient beings.

In early 2018, I trained with Meg Kirby at the Equine Psychotherapy Institute of Australia in Victoria and certified as an Equine Assisted Learning Practitioner. I am proud to promote the EPI model as a comprehensive and credible approach to Equine Assisted Learning. Equine Connections operates under a strict set of ethical and professional guidelines set by the Equine Psychotherapy Institute to ensure a high degree of safety for clients and my horses.
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Equine Connections operates from a beautiful property on the outskirts of Taupo, owned by my husband Tony and I, and shared by our two children, two dogs and of course, our horses.  I invite you to come and see what I, with my small herd of horses, can do for you. ​

Jeannie Young
(BTchLn; MEd; EAL Practitioner)

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The EPI Model

At the beginning of 2018, Jeannie trained at the Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EPI) in Australia. The EPI model was developed by mental health social worker and psychotherapist, Meg Kirby and is informed by the core principles of Gestalt therapy.
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For more information on the Equine Psychotherapy Institute: https://www.equinepsychotherapy.net.au/

The EPI model has 7 underlying principles that make it unique to other models.

  • Relationship
    It is the horse-client-practitioner relationship that becomes the container for change.

  • Holistic Practice 
    The client and practitioner work together across all layers of human experience, including somatic/body, feelings/emotions, cognitive, behavioural and relational.

  • Ethics
    The model is ethically driven, drawing from Australian psychology and social work ethical guidelines as well as ethics relating to animal welfare.

  • Theory of Change
    The Theory of Change draws from psychological and psychotherapeutic ideas. The EPI model believes in awareness, acceptance and experimentation as the main elements of change.

  • The Way of the Horse Psycho-education 
    Horses participate in sessions in a way that is respectful to the horses as valuable, sentient beings. The model is dependent on an I-Thou approach to being in a relationship and integrates the 'Way of the Horse' education into sessions.

  • Specialist Trained Practitioners
    Practitioners are trained in change processes in psychotherapy and experiential learning, horsemanship and horse-human dynamics in EAL. To remain certified, practitioners must take part in ongoing, regular supervision and training.
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  • Personal and Professional Growth
    ​As a part of the certification, EPI practitioners are committed to their own personal and professional growth.

Meet the Herd

​Shaun is a chestnut thoroughbred born in 1999. He was the first horse to come and live with us in 2015. Shaun is a kind soul and enjoys being around people. He is quiet and has a sense of humour. A bit of a character, Shaun makes us smile every day.
Sid came to us at the end of 2017. Born in 2009, he was a successful racehorse until the age of 8 at which point he came to live in Taupo with us. Sid is lovely to be around and doesn't like to miss out on anything. He is curious and enjoys interactions with new friends. Sid is the boss in the herd and makes his authority known to the others.
Sam is a miniature pony that came into our family on Christmas day 2017. We think Sammy was born around 1998. He is the smallest in the herd, but also the oldest. Sammy can be a little bit grumpy when he is eating his dinner, but his small size and otherwise kind nature makes him a fantastic learning partner for children and adults. Sammy has loads of personality. He’s a big horse in a little body! 
Paris is the newest member of the herd and is also the only lady in our equine group. She is a station-bred mare, born in 2008 and belongs to neighbours and good friends of mine. Tragically, Paris lost her paddock mate in 2018, and needing company came to stay at Equine Connections. Paris is a fantastic horse for equine assisted learning activities as she enjoys human company and is also very clear in her communication. She knows her mind and gives very clear responses to all requests made of her.