Equine Therapists
Opal Nera
Opal is every teenagers best friend and dream horse. Opal has a history of being rescued as a 6 month old filly, when she and her mother were left in a paddock with no food or water. Her first experience with humans was being separated from her mother to save them both. Opal has had to learn to be independent, to trust, and to understand her human family members. She is kind, resilient, very aware of the emotions of those she works with, and is a great support to children and teens experiencing trauma or emotional distress. Opal works both on ground work, and mounted experiences in groups and in individual work.
Dr Dakota
Dr. Dakota was our first therapy animal and remains the head of the therapy team. Dakota was rescued from abuse, and has PTSD and is very careful about who he trusts and protecting his boundaries. Dakota has an innate sense of who needs him and when, and is a great support for clients with anxiety, depression and trauma. He is kind, gentle, and very emotionally expressive, and is a safe pony for those nervous about equine work and for children as young as 2.5 years to work with.
Princess Leah
Princess Leah is a rescue pony of indeterminate age, we think in her late twenties. We do know Leah was a games pony at one stage, so she loves to play, run, and explore. Leah also loves grooming experiences and walks with clients, and particularly enjoys teen and adult clients. Leah is gentle but opinionated, strong willed at times, and she is Dakota’s paddock mate, best friend and “rock”. Leah and Dakota work together in group programmes and excel at bringing children’s confident selves out.
Louise
Before arriving here at Coventry Louise spent many years of her life competing around the nation in dressage competitions and even won many championships! After retiring from competing, Louise worked as a school pony at Avoca Park Equestrian, aiding in the development of riding students.
She came to us in late 2022, at the age of 26, after retiring from all ridden work. Louise is here to enjoy her retirement days being groomed and endlessly loved without the requirement of any physical work. She is a sensitive and loving mare who loves a cuddle when she spots a friendly face!
Brennah
Brennah is in her mid twenties and was rescued in 2019. She is best friends with Louise, who together share an old lady paddock here at Epona Brae.
Brennah is a sensitive mare with a strongly intelligent and quirky side. She loves cuddles and won’t say no to a brush or a walk. She is highly aware of the emotions of those she works with and always tries her very best to put a smile on your face!
Lauchetti (Lauchie)
Lauchie is young thoroughbred who was also quite a successful racehorse in his day, having won many races!
Now an ex-racehorse he lives a much more laid back life here at Epona Brae and enjoys his time helping people of all ages in group and private sessions.
Lauchie is a super chilled and kind natured horse who’s happy to be your friend and come galloping up from the back of the paddock when he spots a smiling face!
He not only works independently with clients but also is the heart of our group sessions, bringing his horsemanship skills into play! As well as being apart of the occasional mounted session.
Lainey
Lainey was rescued by us in June 2023 and is our newest member of the Coventry herd, she has since then become a much valued part of our therapy team.
She is a sweet but highly sensitive horse, who enjoys her days cuddling and meeting new people. Currently we are slowly getting her back into work, with the potential of being a ridden horse. Although, for now she spends her time getting used to the property and working with people from the ground.
Santana
Santana does not work with clients one on one, as despite being the tallest horse on the property, he is a baby Warm-blood at 7 years of age. He is wonderful to watch as he interacts with his paddock mate Moniquita, but he has issues with boundaries and understating the difference between human and horse. He also has a habit of playing with everything, and has a short attention span. Think of him as the annoying baby brother! This will improve as he grows up. In the meantime, Tani’s role on our team is to help us to observe interactions within the herd.
Moniquita (Moni)
Moniquita is 7 years of age and is an Andalusian princess. Moni is a dressage horse and trains with Dr Traci, but is also available for one on one cuddles and observational work with Santana.
Moni is intuitive, kind, very sensitive, and high energy. She responds to the energy level of clients, and is best suited to working with horse savvy teens who have learned to keep energy levels down with the horses.