Healing with Horses: Inside Hope Meadows’ Equine Therapy

In this podcast Steve is joined by Emily Walters, founder of Hope Meadows, a community interest company providing equine-assisted psychotherapy and education in Lincoln.
Emily explained how Hope Meadows evolved from a weekend hobby into a service supporting over 100 clients weekly with a team of 10 staff and 9 horses. She detailed how equine-assisted therapy differs from traditional talking therapies, emphasizing the non-verbal communication through body language and energy, with activities including grooming, observing herd dynamics, and ground-based interactions rather than riding.
Emily discussed the careful selection process for horses based on their temperament, past experiences, and ability to integrate with the herd, noting how horses support each other when new members join.
The interview covered Hope Meadows' work with clients ranging from age 3 to 70s, including those with mental health challenges, dementia, and trauma, with both therapy and education programs available.