About Claire
Claire lives with her family, including 70 horses and ponies, 4 dogs, 1 cat, 3 goats and a chicken. She is an accredited EAL Practitioner trained at the Equine Psychotherapy Institute in the EPl Model. Training is based on Gestalt Therapy and the way of the horse Psycho Education. She has a Bachelor of Education in Primary School Teaching and for the past 20 years has had extensive experience in this area, working with children of all ages, in a range of settings. During this time Claire’s primary focus was on building strong, healthy relationships with children so they could feel supported and valued. Believing very strongly that the bases for all types of learning comes from the need for an individual to feel connection and trust.
In conjunction with teaching, Claire has been involved with horses for 20 years. Managing horse businesses with her husband Mark. Riding and training horses, caring for them and in the past 8 years running a riding school helping people connect with horses for riding and relationship. Witnessing first-hand the way horses have positive impacts on people’s lives.
Claire also rides for pleasure and at certain times takes part in competitions with her horse Raph and can be found helping her two children work with their equine family members. Most of the horses residing on the farm are retired racehorses and help Claire provide equine assisted learning experiences in a range of situations.
As an EAL Practitioner Claire works with all individuals and groups, but specialises in working with children and adolescents to navigate life and their place in it. Focusing on, behaviour regulation, awareness, relationships and coping strategies for those with a range of formal and informal diagnoses. Claire liaises with schools, community groups and families to provide specialised programs focused on providing social and emotional support, personal development and learning with horses. Claire has based her EAL practise on the way of the horse and what she has learnt from working with horses and children for the past 20 years.
Horses at Horse Sense are very much educating the human herd.