HORSE KNOWING
inspiring human learning
THE HORSES . . . YOUR EAL PARTNERS
We are absolutely blessed to work with the very special horses that form the Better Together Therapy Riding herd: Cora, Hank, Fred, Ted, Larry and Auryn. Thanks to the support of their wonderful owner, and Therapeutic Riding Coach, Natalie Carey we are able to bring this EAL work to all of you.
Natalie has created space for us to work in the magical arena and stable barns whenever the therapy riders are not in action. Please do check out her fantastic work, providing opportunities for people of all ages with additional needs to share in the magic of horseback riding, supported by her colleague Therapeutic Riding Coach Sorcha and a dedicated team of experienced volunteers -
Better Together Therapy Riding, Lilliput, Castletown Geoghegan, Mullingar, N91 HK59
I'm super grateful to be able to introduce you to one or more of these guys to partner with you as you embark on your Equine Assisted Learning journey.
YOUR EAL FACILITATOR
Thank YOU for following your curiosity to check me out!
My name is Melanie and I’m a QQI certified Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator and Coach who trained and qualified with Festina Lente in Bray, Co. Wicklow and I also hold a qualification in Trauma Informed Therapy delivered by the I.I.C.P., The Irish Institiute of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Dublin.
And the other important stuff - I am fully insured, Garda vetted, qualified as a First Aid Responder and I currently work together with the team of amazing horses from the Better Together Therapy Riding Centre.
Equine Experience
I was one of the lucky ones, I got popped out on an a thoroughbred stud farm in the middle of Ireland, so I've been around horses since I was let loose in the yard. I did the usual kids and pony stuff, working my way through Pony Club exams and competing in PC dressage and eventing and starting a few young horses on their careers as future race horses. As a student I got the very inspiring opportunity to work abroad as a rider in dressage and eventing yards in Austria and Germany. Most recently I’ve had the fun opportunity to volunteer with the Better Together Therapy Riding team, at Lilliput, Castletown Geoghan, Co Westmeath.
Equine Assisted Learning Qualifications & Certifications
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Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator & Coach.
Life and Workplace Coaching. QQI (L6)
Equine Assisted Facilitator Certification. Festina Lente -
Trauma Informed Therapy. QQI (L8) I.I.C.P. College Dublin.
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First Aid Responder. Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council.
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Children First. HSE National Safeguarding Office.
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Safeguarding Adults at risk of abuse. HSE National Safeguarding.
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Garda Vetted through Horse Sport Ireland.
Previous health and well-being service provision
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture Practitioner (2015-2019). I had the privilege of treating clients from four years up to eighty years of age in private practice as well as providing a volunteer TCM Clinic for men in residential substance misuse rehabilitation. Personal health challenges led me to reassess my path and brought my focus back to the horses!
Lifelong learning journey
With Equine Assisted Learning work comes with the responsibility to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for my clients, and to do that I am committed to my own professional and personal development though professional mentorship and continued training including Trauma Informed Therapy.
Horses are very special animals, as any of you who have spent time around them and may have experienced the therapeutic benefits will know. So it's my privilege now to guide you to work in partnership with them, to reconnect with the best version of yourself, as you tackle your own personal challenges on this journey called life.
CONTACT
Melanie Downes
HORSE KNOWING E.A.L.
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland