Wedgetail Equine Therapy and Art Therapy

Proprietor Kim Wren is a registered Art Therapist and a fully accredited instructor with Horse Safety Australia and has more than thirty years experience with horses. She is also a Level 2 instructor in Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL).

Kim Wren recognised her love of horses at a very early age, and has always felt part of the wonderful and embracing world of nature. Her first pony Tammy was her constant companion for a decade and a half. Together they attended pony clubs, competed in one to three day events, and state and zone game teams all over Victoria.

Kim has a background in horticulture and has held positions in state forests and botanical gardens Australia wide. Her affinity with horses has been all enduring. She has been working for many years giving lessons to both children and adults as well as taking trail rides.

Kim completed an Advanced Diploma in Art Therapy and brings together her vast experience with horses within a therapeutic and self-development environment.

Get to know us - Hi from Lindy

“I’ve had a few different careers over my life but the work I do as an Equine Therapist is the most rewarding and heartfelt.

After spending my 20s working in marketing I went back to school and spent 3 years doing back to back qualifications in counselling and art therapy. This changed everything for me - it helped me reshape the way I wanted to live, to move to the Yarra Valley from St Kilda and to explore my love for writing (and because I love to learn I did some more study and qualifications to become an editor and professional writer as well.)
Then honouring a love I have had for horses since I was a toddler, I finally embraced the idea of a horse of my own and here I am. I met Kim more than 13 years ago and she helped me master my horse skills and adopt my own first horse, a beautiful buckskin mare called Honey.
I love to write and have several projects on the go, and its true to say my creativity has been enhanced by my love for nature and horses. I am also learning to speak Italian and love the challenge a new language presents.
I have been living in the Yarra Valley for almost 25 years and I have a partner and two teenage children.
I love working with all kinds of clients - from women seeking new ways to flourish and be creative to the amazing people I meet through the NDIS.

I am a parent to a child who was diagnosed as autistic in 2018 so I believe that I bring some real life understanding to the young people and their carers who also identify in this way.

What else can I tell you? I love artichokes (like ridiculously so) and dark chocolate. I can’t do anything in the morning until I’ve had a chai tea and a coffee. In that order!”


Love Lindy

*FIELD ORNAMENTS*

"I really love my horse but I don't have the time /lost the confidence to ride him - I don't want to part with him but I feel so guilty that he's being wasted in the field when I know he's got so much potential - he could be an amazing horse for someone" - I see these sentences on the horse groups constantly.

Humans are feeling guilty for not riding their horses.

Humans actually believing that horses are having their potential wasted if they're not ridden.

Many of these humans will part with their horse plainly and simply because of the pressure that the society puts on them to ride the horses. The pressure from friends and family - "why don't you ride him ? If he's not ridden you're wasting your money / he'd be better off with someone who will give him the time he needs (to be ridden). "

People need to wake up. Horses are not born to be ridden. Riding and using horses in a means of transport /working animals are over (at least in the modern world) - we have cars, bikes, train , airplanes, machines.

Horses now are used mostly for our own entertainment - whether it's taking part in competitions or riding for pleasure. Back in the day our quality of life / means of making money dependent on horses. Our future dependent on them - they were used in wars for centuries.

Now their lives depend on us.

When you feel you can't ride anymore for any reason please understand that it's ok.

You don't need to ride - more - your horse's happiness is not rooted it being ridden - you will find it's actually quite opposite.

If you have all the abilities to keep your horse despite not riding him please do so - only this way you will ensure his future.

There are so many exciting ways to be with horses that don't involve riding - going on walks together, spending time in the field, playing cognitive games, finding ways to enrich their lives.

Please be your horse's best friend, forever - just like he's been yours ....

There is nothing wrong with *field ornaments*

Here is a creative challenge. What would you name this gorgeous calf, but the challenge is Oreo is already taken!

There's lots of new spring babies around. This little one has been super curious about our horses over the fence.

Share your ideas in comments. Go!!

School holidays are fast approaching
Try something different for your kids these holidays

We have a new pony!
What do you think their name is?
Leave your suggestions in the comments.

This pony doesn't need feeding or grooming and doesn't like to move far but is perfect for little ones to get the hang of getting on and off a pony before they might like to try the real live version.

Getting outside is often felt as relief when the mind is busy or anxious. We hold all our sessions outdoors (we do have plenty of undercover spaces as well when weather dictates).

Learning how to figure out what triggers hard feelings and learning strategies about how to self manage, or self regulate, is an important part of learning emotional and social skills - whether you are an adult or a child.

Art and horses help us realise and respond in healthy ways.

If you think a session could be helpful or just need to ask a few questions to see if Equine and Art Therapy is right for you or a loved one, please reach out.
We have sessions available now.

Tel 0417312602 or email [email protected]

Some of the nature based craft ideas here at wedge tail

We now have sessions available, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Please feel free to contact us for more information and bookings

We have sessions available, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Children really benefit from equine and art therapy because they often respond better to the ‘non-verbal’ nature of the interactions. It’s hard enough as an adult to name emotions so our approach helps kids feel and identify what’s going one without the need for words or explanations.

The way horses assist in this process is profound.

If you think a session could be helpful or just need to ask a few questions to see if Equine and Art Therapy is right for you or a loved one, please reach out.
We have sessions available now.

Tel 0417312602 or email [email protected]

“Horses have the ability to think and plan ahead and are far more intelligent than scientists previously thought, according to a Nottingham Trent University study that analysed the animal’s responses to a reward-based game.

“The horses cannily adapted their approach to the game to get the most treats – while making the least effort.

“Previously, research has suggested that horses simply respond to stimuli in the moment, they don’t proactively look ahead, think ahead and plan their actions – whereas our study shows that they do have an awareness of the consequences and outcomes of their actions,” said the lead researcher, Louise Evans.”

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/12/horses-can-plan-ahead-and-think-strategically-scientists-find

The actual research paper…

“Whoa, No-Go: Evidence consistent with model-based strategy use in horses during an inhibitory task”
Louise Evans et al.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124001874?via%3Dihub

Read about Akhal-Teke Foundation programs here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Join our email list here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/email_list.html

Noddie helping with admin this beautiful morning.
Have a great day.

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal

Animals are creatures that feel distress and pain like human beings. However, they cannot make their misery known to the world through words or writing. Therefore, every good person must seek to understand animals and take care of them when they are in distress or danger. Man can take pleasure in a healthy animal, but to help a suffering one is a source of happiness.

Look at our beautiful new stairway to barn heaven. Solid hand rails and soft inclines for all types of mobility. So the question is this: would these be even better if they were decorated with clients art? What would you do?