The launch of Groundwork Therapy was held at AELEC this week with health professionals, the media and the public invited along to see what it’s all about.

Ms Peters’s three horses – Doc, Fonzie and Princess Phoebe – were put through their paces, so to speak, with hands-on activities and demonstrations of how equine therapy could heal those in need.

With a background in psychology, Ms Peters said she had helped hundreds of people, including at-risk youth, families and even couples having relationship difficulties.

“It’s like coming to a traditional therapist’s office with a couch – but with an arena and horses instead,” said Ms Peters.

Her three horses have hundreds of hours of specialist training and are “very perceptive and pick up on people’s emotions,” Ms Peters said. “The horse becomes the therapist.”

Clients are encouraged to get hands-on with her three equine therapists by brushing, touching and leading the animals.

Ms Peters said she got a lot of personal satisfaction working with clients, mentioning one story in particular that touched her heart.

“I had an 11-year-old girl recommended to me recently. She was in care and was having trouble with the law and skipping school.”

Ms Peters and her three horses worked with the troubled youngster over a period of seven months and Ms Peters was amazed by the change in the girl, who went back to school and started talking to her carers again.

“She learned respect for herself and respect for others. It was pretty rewarding,” she said.