Equi-Scotia CIC

30/08/2026

🐴 The Horseman’s Handshake

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do with a horse is… less.

The Horseman’s Handshake is beautifully simple.

Approach slowly. Notice the horse’s response. Wait to be invited into their space. Then offer the back of your hand — and let the horse make the first move.

No pressure. No assumption. Just an invitation.

It’s a small interaction that says so much about trust, boundaries, choice and connection — all principles at the heart of our Equine Facilitated work at Equi-Scotia.

Why not try it?

Next time you’re rushing to catch, feed, rug or ride, slow things down and give your horse the choice to connect first.

What do you notice in your horse?

And perhaps more importantly… what do you notice in yourself?

🐴 Give it a go and tell us what you discover in the comments.

And if this sparks your curiosity, our special-offer Home Study Pack takes these ideas further, with a live Q&A on 21 September.

Connection can begin when we stop asking — and start listening.

Thanks as ever to for capturing the moment! 🙏🙏🙏

Find out more in the link below 👇

28/08/2026

This is a highly recommended experience for EFL and EFT practitioners and counts as CPD for our Community of Practice.

Final Reminder – Nature Therapy This Sunday! 🌿

Just a reminder that our Nature Therapy session takes place this Sunday, 30th August, at Craigsfarm Community Hub.

If you’ve been thinking about joining, now is the time to get in touch.

🌱 Take some time to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy a mindful experience outdoors.

📅 Sunday 30th August
📍 Craigsfarm Community Hub
👥 Ages 16 and over

Please dress appropriately for the weather. Lunch will be provided, along with all nature journalling and crafting materials.

There will be a short walk of approximately half a mile from Craigsfarm to the park, followed by a return walk at the end of the session.

📩 For registration:
[email protected]
📞 01506 894639

⏳ Spaces may be limited — get in touch today to register your place.

💚 Sometimes, stepping into nature gives us the space to pause, breathe and reconnect.

27/08/2026

🏇🏿Graduate Spotlight – Laura Wilson, Happy Hooves Sanquhar
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

We’re proud to shine our Graduate Spotlight on Professional Diploma graduate Laura Wilson.

Ten years ago, Laura left her role at a local school to focus on growing Happy Hooves Sanquhar C.I.C with her husband Keith, a retired firefighter. Together they’ve built a well-respected service supporting wellbeing, learning and education in an equine setting.

Their ambitious £400K capital project to create an indoor facility is on it's final push - they just need to raise the remaining £90K. If you've ever tried running horse related services all year round in Scotland you'll know what a difference having a roof will make to the horses and people.

Laura and Keith have spent years supporting others. Now they could use a little help from all of us.

🐎 Can we help them over the fundraising finish line?

Donate, share or make an introduction – every bit of support could help.

Qualifications Scotland Social Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway

25/08/2026

great to see the 5 domains is now featured in the updated guidance for keeping horses published by the The Scottish Government! 🙏🐴♥️

New welfare guidance has been published for owners of equines. The guidance provides information on how to care for equines and ensure their welfare and emotional needs are met.

Emphasising the importance of equine welfare, the guidance has been developed in close partnership with the equine sector, and covers everything from diet and environment to horse passports and tethering.

The guidance replaces the previous Welfare of Equidae Code of Practice published in 2009, and recognises that animal welfare knowledge, management practices and science have moved on from previous management principles.

Modern approaches now include mental wellbeing, positive experiences, the need for social interaction and the ability to express natural behaviours as well as the equines physical health.

British Horse Society
BHS Scotland
National Equine Welfare Council
World Horse Welfare

To view the new welfare guidance visit https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781807753627

23/08/2026

📣 WELCOMING OUR NEW DIRECTOR

We’re delighted to welcome Claire McConnachie as a new Director.

Many of you will know Claire as Manager of the Riding Academy at Ingliston Country Club. She’s also a Distinction-level graduate of our Certificate in Therapeutic Groundwork and shares our commitment to putting horse welfare at the heart of everything we do.

Claire is deeply committed to creating new opportunities for young people who find school difficult — working with horses to offer a different space for confidence, connection and learning.

We’re so pleased to have her on board. ❤️

Curious to experience the power of Equine Facilitated Learning? Come work with Claire and the Equi-Scotia team this October!

📍 Ingliston Country Club
📅 29 & 30 October

Event info in link 👇

20/08/2026

🐴 WHO'S WITH YOU IN THE ARENA MATTERS
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

And we couldn’t ask for better company!

We’re delighted that our founders Julie-Anne and Mike are supporting our Next Generation Leadership team at this upcoming practical event.

If you'd like to

Deepen your self-awareness
Understand your impact on others
Stay grounded under pressure
And be intentional in how you show up

Step into the arena with us

📅 29 & 30 October
📍 Ingliston Country Club

Thanks, as ever, to David Ho Wedding Photographer for capturing the moment 📸

Julie-Anne Griffith Coach Mike Delaney Counselling and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy-Scotland

Places are limited - reserve yours using the link below 👇

16/08/2026

OUT OF THE CLASSROOM - INTO THE ARENA . 🐴

Inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” — and the idea behind Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly — we’re inviting you to step into the arena for real.

Join us for two practical days of Equine Facilitated Learning — learning through experience, relationship and engagement with horses.

Perfect for practitioners seeking meaningful CPD or anyone curious to experience the power of equine facilitated personal development.

📅 29 & 30 October
📍 Estate & Country Club
🎓 CPD hours + hours towards our Certificate in Therapeutic Groundwork

Ready to step into the arena?

👉 Book your place now — link below.

Thanks as ever to David Ho Wedding Photographer

09/08/2026

🐴 We’re featured in HETI Global Gallop!

We’re delighted to see Equi-Scotia CIC featured in the latest Global Gallop, sharing our work around horses, learning, connection and community.

The article features members of our practitioner community, recent workshops and our professional development pathway — all grounded in ethical, reflective and relationship-centred practice.

Curious about what we do?

A great place to start is our self-paced Introduction to Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) home-study course available now.

💻 Learn at your own pace
💬 Online resources and support
📅 Live Q&A — 21 September

👉 Booking information and link to full Global Gallop Publication in comments below

For those wanting to take the learning further, we’ll be with the horses at the Equestrian Academy at Ingliston Country Club on 29 & 30 October — more on that soon!

HETI - Horses in Education and Therapy International Always Herd - Equine Facilitated Learning & Development Joanna Wood Mike Delaney Counselling and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy-Scotland Equi-Innse Gall CIC Ley Roberts

--

29/07/2026

Celebrating EAS day with a post from Professional Diploma graduate Arlene from Quiet Kin Counselling & Animal Assisted Therapy with a lovely insight into her horse centric environment. This best of Equine Facilitated coaching and therapy happens when both horses and humans are able to make choices that support their physical and mental wellness. With thanks to the team at HETI - Horses in Education and Therapy International for all the hard work supporting Equine Assisted and Facilitated Service providers and educators around the globe 🙏🐴♥️