Gentle giant: Shamanii, 13, with Humphrey the equine therapy horse
© Justin McManus/The Age
By Carolyn Webb
One year ago, 13-year-old Shamanii avoided other kids and suffered such severe anxiety she didn’t want to go to school.
Now, in the words of her mother Alma, Shamanii is “loving school, absolutely loving it”.
“She’s putting herself out there, auditioning for productions. She’s made a whole lot of new friends.”
All because of a horse named Humphrey.
The gentle giant Clydesdale-Andalusian cross is an equine therapy horse.
Shamanii had experienced trauma and was withdrawing from school and friends.
A social worker at welfare organisation Child and Family Services Ballarat (CAFS), “prescribed” Shamanii once-a-week sessions with Humphrey.
Young survivors of trauma like Shamanii, 13, will do equine therapy with horses like Humphrey on a farm near Creswick
© Justin McManus/The Age
Over 16 weeks, while counsellors taught Shamanii how to approach and groom him and lead him through an obstacle course, she learnt more about relating to humans.
Such as the importance of reading non-verbal cues.
“You can relate the horse’s emotions to people,” Shamanii says. “Like, knowing when to leave them alone and when they need help”…
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