There are many many ways that horses enhance our leadership capacity. We can also draw many successful collaborative teamwork principles from understanding horse herd culture. Horses call on our participants to step up and become a leader the the horse deems as a safe and trusted leader. As a prey animal, they are hard-wired to survive, and the same attributes that they rely on in the wild we can parallel to life skills that humans require to confidently lead their own lives.Please head on over to the "Why Horses" tab under the "About" section in the website for more information.

We do not ride any horses here as part of the programs. We only partner with horses on the ground in their natural state. You will work alongside the horses as part of your team rather than as a tool.

This way the horse can be its true self and remain responsive to human stimulus.

This allows for the best and true response from the horse and the most beneficial way of learning for you. You do not need prior horse experience to participate in one of our programs. Please let Jess know if you have any fears or phobias that may impact your experience or professional training with the horses.

I support each individual on their journey. With some safe nurturing guidance, all participants have developed their courage to end up working closely with the horses. We work on your mindset and perspective. We use breathing techniques and grounding techniques when needed. We chat about how learning and growing ourselves requires us to build an understanding of how to transform our relationship with uncertainty.This experience for anyone who is fearful, parallels the real world challenge of how we manage ourselves through uncertainty. It is hugely empowering for you as an individual to recognise this and work on developing this aspect of yourself with some support and guidance.

Yes, we certainly do. Please arrange a time to have a call with Jess who will talk through your requirements and goals with you. Jess can customise programs or workshops for private groups, teams or individuals. Please contact Jess through the "Contact" page.

The founder of the BuildingBlock™ program (Tamara MacKinnon) bought the study of how human beings learn, together with the research on how wild horses operate. Tamara developed the process where each program has a main objective, yet all objectives are built into each program as well. We work with one solid objective at a time building on the skills each week, hence the building block curriculum program that builds the skills we’re focusing on each week.While a lot of fun is had in our programs, the hands-on and experiential learning style combined with focussed skill building exercises, results in a much deeper understanding of the lessons learned, and for those lessons to be retained for much longer.The curriculum program has proven to be life changing, with solid results after a 5-year research study with the University of Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina in Canada. Jess is happy to discuss running a curriculum program for your group or team. It is not part of her standard programs now due to relocating to a more isolated area. However, she is still able to facilitate term-long programs for High School students or Community groups. Please arrange a time with Jess to discuss this further.

A day of team building or team development with horses can significantly benefit your company in several ways. It promotes better teamwork and communication, enhances leadership skills, encourages adaptability, and fosters trust among team members. These equine-assisted activities provide unique insights into team dynamics and individual strengths, resulting in a more cohesive, effective, and motivated team. Ultimately, it contributes to improved interpersonal dynamics, productivity and collaboration within your organisation.

The leadership and team programs with horses offers a distinct advantage over other programs we've tried because it taps into experiential and unconventional learning. Horses are highly sensitive to human behaviour, providing immediate, honest feedback that mirrors real-life leadership situations. This experiential approach creates a lasting impact, helping participants understand and internalise leadership principles on a deeper level. It also promotes teamwork, communication, and emotional intelligence in a memorable way. By engaging with these powerful animals, participants develop a unique perspective on leadership, setting this program apart from traditional methods and making it more effective in fostering leadership growth and development.Horses + Objective-Based Exercises + Effective Facilitation + Experiential Learning = Change.

Certainly! We prioritise your safety. Comprehensive insurance coverage is provided for all participants, whether you're joining us for one day or multiple days. Once you've accepted your proposal, Jess will be happy to send you a copy of her risk assessment and insurance documentation for your records. A standard liability waiver is required to be signed for all equine activities before participation.

Our programs typically accommodate groups of 6 to 8 participants with a single facilitator when working with horses. For larger groups, we can arrange for additional experienced facilitators to increase our capacity. Jess has run workshops with group sizes up to 22 people on the arena in the past. Additionally, we can integrate sessions with other highly skilled trainers or facilitators upon request, tailoring the experience to meet the specific needs of your organisation.

Our upcoming facility expansion includes the addition of a roof over our horse arena, ensuring a more comfortable experience even during moderate rain or varying temperatures. However, in the case of heavy rain, thunderstorms, or high winds, your day may become uncomfortable or unsafe. Rest assured, we maintain open communication and closely monitor weather forecasts before your scheduled program. If we anticipate extreme weather conditions, we'll work closely with you to reschedule your program or workshop whenever possible, ensuring your safety and a more enjoyable experience.

Yes, Jess Keenan is highly certified and qualified in various fields. She holds certification from the Academy of Equine Assisted Learning, a renowned organisation in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), and offers the world's only certified building block program in this field. Additionally, Jess is a trained facilitator of "What's The Buzz?" by Mark Le Messurier, with extensive experience in facilitating the program for over 300 neurodivergent children and teenagers in the Hills and Murray Mallee regions. She has also completed certification for Madhavi Naweena Parker's Confident Minds Curriculum. Furthermore, Jess has attained EDISC behavioral profiling accreditation for individuals and teams and is a certified Emotional Fitness Formula Practitioner. With her comprehensive qualifications and experience, she is well-equipped to work with individuals of all ages, and she successfully conducts team development programs for professionals.

No problem! Just make sure that the adults accompanying the young people, have permission to administer an allergy pill (antihistamine) if necessary. If you are concerned for yourself, please ensure you have suitable antihistamines with you. Jess occasionally experiences hay fever during specific seasons, and she has found that taking an antihistamine about an hour before being around the horses effectively addresses the issue.

We are newly located on the Riddoch Highway at Willalooka, in the beautiful Tatiara Region in South Australia. Willalooka is centrally located to the lower south east, the upper south east, and the western districts of Victoria. Jess has a fully weather-proof second venue at Strathalbyn that is suitable for leaders and teams closer to Adelaide. Jess has also ran the horse-led leadership programs interstate, it is possible!