Animal Therapies Ltd Podcast
Paws for Thought is a podcast about animals changing human lives for the better. Anecdotally we know about the therapeutic powers of animals but the science and research are now validating those beliefs.
Animal-assisted services is a recognised field worldwide and through this podcast we hope to educate, entertain and raise awareness among listeners about the countless ways that animals are helping humans.
Animal Therapies Ltd Podcast
How horses help us heal and experience joy
Vanessa (Ness) Hawkins is a self-confessed horse nut, who was riding ponies in England before she could walk.
Emigrating to Australia as a young child and growing up in rural Victoria, where her British accent made her a target for bullies, Ness found solace in pony club, eventually competing at State Championship level and then overseas.
A desire to care for others led her into nursing, a career she juggled for years while still riding, training and breeding horses.
In 2016, Ness established Euroa Horse Park in north east Victoria, a multipurpose facility that offers farm tours, carriage rides, camping, stallions at stud, horses for sale and animal-assisted services.
Her focus is on helping people with disabilities and special needs, and she does this by holding regular clinics and seminars, educating people about the value of animals as a therapeutic tool.
In this episode of Paws for Thought, Ness explains how horses have given her conviction, a direction and a sense of purpose in her life’s journey.
For more information about Euroa Horse Park, visit https://welcometoeuroahorsepark.blogspot.com/