Quiet Kin Counselling & Animal Assisted Therapy

29/07/2026

Freedom to choose.

Equi-Scotia CIC

29/07/2026

When you offer horses choice… this is what they choose.

These photos were all taken within the same hour this morning.

The ponies had the choice to be outside in the field or inside the shelter. They could choose grass, haylage or chop. They had different places to drink, room to move, and the freedom to be close to, or away from, their friends.

And this is what they chose.

Looking at these pictures, I feel a little bit proud of what we’ve created here, but even more than that, I feel privileged. Privileged to be able to offer our little herd something that should perhaps be more ordinary than it is: choice.

In the UK, the traditional way of keeping horses is at livery yards. Many horses spend much of their lives in individual stables with limited turnout. During winter, some may be confined to a stable 24 hours a day for weeks or even months.

Imagine living in one room for months. No freedom to decide when to go outside. Little opportunity to move. No physical contact with your friends. No say over what you eat or when. Very little choice about how you spend your day.

We’ve accepted this as “normal” because it’s the way it’s always been done.

It made me wonder how often we, as humans, do exactly the same thing.

How much of the life we live is truly our choice? How much is shaped by tradition, expectations, social media, culture, or the quiet pressure to fit in?

In Transactional Analysis we often talk about autonomy—living from awareness, spontaneity and intimacy, rather than simply following old scripts or doing what we’ve learned we “should” do.

If nobody was watching…
If there were no expectations…
If you weren’t trying to fit into anyone else’s idea of success, productivity or happiness…

How would you choose to live?

Sometimes watching horses reminds us of something we’ve forgotten ourselves: when we’re given safety, connection and genuine choice, we often know exactly what we need.

An invitation: Maybe that’s something worth reflecting on today?

26/07/2026

Welcome to the herd, Robin. ❤️

Robin was born on the same farm as Khal and Ted, but yesterday he started a new chapter with us.

As we’ve been settling him in, I’ve found myself reflecting on friendships. Robin belongs to one of my dearest, longest-standing friends. Our friendship began over 35 years ago, sharing a pony, and all these years later we’re still sharing horses, stories, and life. Some friendships quietly stand the test of time.

Watching Robin and Ted meet was a joy. There was no posturing, no proving, just an immediate sense of I’m OK, you’re OK. An unconditional acceptance of one another that felt so simple and so natural.

Here’s to Robin finding his place in the herd, and to the hope that he and Ted enjoy many years of friendship together—just as their humans have.

23/07/2026

15/07/2026

Slow start Wednesday.
Creating balance and self care

13/07/2026

Since Pet Memorial Day, I’ve found myself reflecting on the human-animal bond.

There’s something so unique about the relationships we have with our animals. They become part of our everyday lives, our routines, our comfort, and our memories. They ask so little of us, yet leave such a lasting imprint.

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of losing my pony, Brad.

The thing is… I forgot.

I only realised when a Facebook memory popped up.

My first thought wasn’t sadness. It was guilt.

“How could you forget him?”

Then the tears came.

As they still are while I write this.

I’ve realised those two things can exist together. It is possible to forget a date, yet never forget the one you loved. It doesn’t mean Brad means any less to me. It simply means life has continued, as life does.

When I think of him, I still miss him. I still cry. And I suspect I always will.

These days I’m lucky enough to share my life with more horses and dogs than I ever imagined possible. Every one of them has found their own place in my heart. They haven’t replaced Brad—they’ve simply reminded me that our capacity to love doesn’t run out.

Maybe that’s part of the magic of the human-animal bond. We carry those we’ve lost with us, while making room for new connections. Love doesn’t divide; it grows.

So today, I’m remembering Brad. With tears, with gratitude, and with a heart that’s a little fuller because he was part of my life. ❤️

13/07/2026

How cool are Ted’s whiskers?! 😍🐴

This photo gives the perfect close-up of one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of a horse’s face.

Those long whiskers aren’t just there to make Ted look adorable. They’re highly sensitive tactile hairs (called vibrissae) that help horses explore the world around them. They provide valuable sensory information, helping horses judge distances, detect objects close to their muzzle, find food, and safely navigate their environment—especially in places they can’t see directly beneath their nose.

Can you believe that until 1st July 2024, it was still common practice for many horses to have their whiskers trimmed for cosmetic reasons?

Thankfully, under updated British Equestrian welfare rules, trimming a horse’s sensory whiskers is now banned in affiliated competition (except where there is a genuine veterinary reason). It’s a small change that reflects a much bigger shift towards recognising horses’ natural behaviours and sensory needs.

What strikes me is how closely this relates to conversations we’re now having about sensory needs—both in animals and in people.

When we understand that whiskers are an important sensory tool, it becomes easier to see why removing them can affect a horse’s ability to interact comfortably with their environment. In a similar way, many neurodivergent people experience the world through heightened or different sensory processing. What might seem insignificant to someone else can be an important source of information, comfort, safety, or regulation.

Whether it’s a horse using whiskers to navigate, or a person using sensory strategies to feel grounded, the message is the same:

Understanding sensory needs is part of understanding wellbeing.

Sometimes thriving isn’t about changing who someone is—it’s about respecting the way they experience the world.

I think Ted’s magnificent whiskers are a lovely reminder of that. ❤️

10/07/2026

One of the first things I do each morning is check the ponies on the cameras.

Sometimes I catch moments like this and feel incredibly lucky.

Looking into the stable, each horse is simply… being a horse. Choosing to rest together, with the older 2 watching over Ted. They have the freedom to make choices throughout their day—whether that’s grazing, seeking shelter, resting, or spending time with one another.

For me, this is what good horse care is about. Not just meeting their physical needs, but recognising that their emotional wellbeing matters too.

I do my best to manage each horse as an individual while giving them the opportunity to express natural behaviours. Their environment is built around the principles of the Five Domains of animal welfare: good nutrition, a safe and enriching environment, physical health, opportunities for natural behaviours and social connection, all of which contribute to what matters most—their mental wellbeing.

The Five Domains remind us that welfare isn’t simply about preventing suffering. It’s about creating the conditions that allow an individual to thrive, not just survive.

It’s something I find myself reflecting on beyond the stable too.

As a psychotherapist, I often meet people who have become incredibly good at surviving. They get up, go to work, care for everyone else, keep going, and from the outside everything can look “fine”. Yet inside, they may feel disconnected, exhausted, misunderstood or simply stuck.

Counselling isn’t about fixing people. Much like caring for my horses, it’s about creating the conditions where growth becomes possible. A space where there is safety, connection, curiosity, and choice. A place to understand yourself more deeply, gently loosen old patterns, and reconnect with who you are beyond simply coping.

Whether it’s horses or humans, I believe wellbeing is about more than the absence of distress. It’s about having the opportunity to feel safe enough to be yourself, connected enough to belong, and free enough to grow.

Perhaps that’s what thriving really means.

Finding calm in connection.

09/07/2026

08/07/2026

A few additional counselling appointments are now available for both individual and relationship counselling.

Taking that first step can feel daunting, especially if you’ve never experienced counselling before. That’s why I offer a free introductory session—a gentle, no-pressure space to meet, ask questions, find out more about how I work, and decide whether counselling feels right for you at this point in your life.

If something has been weighing on you, you don’t have to navigate it alone.