When Jen Guinea gets on the back of a horse, she feels free.
The Central Queensland mother’s love of horse riding began as a little girl and helped her overcome the toughest times of her life.
“They are calm, they are peaceful,” she said.
“They are a part of you, whether you are a rider or someone who wants to either give them a pat or sit back and watch them.”
On the way to having her child, Mrs Guinea suffered twelve miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy and felt like a shadow of her former self afterwards.
“Every time you lose a piece of yourself and it’s devastating, every single one of them.”
Jen lost 13 babies before having her son, Daley. (Source: Jen Guinea)
She was diagnosed with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Although Ms. Guinea had not ridden a horse for many years, she said it was only when she got back in the saddle that she finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Getting back to riding has helped me feel like myself again,” she said.
Healing for horses
Ms Guinea rediscovered her love of horses when she started working on a farm in Moranbah, a mining town in central Queensland, about 200 kilometres south-west of Mackay.
It was owned by Bob Kohler and he ran a company with the simple goal of teaching people to bond with animals.
Little did Mrs. Guinea know that a bond would develop between the two over shared grief after learning that horses had helped Bob overcome his battle with depression following the death of his wife.
Bob Kohler runs the 5 Mile Equestrian Centre in Moranbah. (ABC Rural: Ashleigh Bagshaw)
“They (horses) don’t judge, that’s probably for the best. They just are themselves,” Mr Kohler said.
But Ms Guinea’s story is not an isolated case.
The influence of Mr Kohler’s farm has spread to others in the Moranbah community.
There, residents can interact with the horses, care for them and ride them as they deal with the difficulties of their lives.
“People come out, relax and exchange stories,” Ms Guinea said.
“It has really helped all the ladies and gentlemen I have met through my work at Bob.”
“Magic about them”
Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) is not a new concept, but there is a lack of research on this practice.
Dr Zena Burgess is Executive Director of the industry’s peak body, the Australian Psychological Society.
She said anyone considering trying alternative methods should be cautious.
“There is far less evidence for the effectiveness of treatments such as EAT,” said Dr. Burgess.
“Anyone considering EAT should do so in conjunction with a trusted health professional to ensure they are making an informed decision.”
Mr. Kohler said he did not claim to be a therapist and did not offer therapy services.
He said the farm was designed to give people an opportunity to thrive.
“I think whether it’s fishing, golfing or something else, people need something that brings them back to their center,” Kohler said.
“Horses just have a certain magic about them.”
Youth worker Sherry Farnell said she had witnessed this “magic” firsthand through her work at ELAM, a non-profit organisation that provides housing assistance and youth services to people in Moranbah.
Sherry Farnell works with disinterested young people. (ABC Rural: Ashleigh Bagshaw)
Ms Farnell said she has brought young people to Mr Kohler’s farm over the past six years and has seen how horses provide a sense of connection to at-risk youth.
“When children are going through difficult times, traumatic experiences and are quite disinterested, it offers them the opportunity to build a real bond with the animals,” she said.
“We have seen great changes among the young people there.”
Lack of regional transport services
The town of Moranbah has a population of just under 10,000 people, but there is only one private psychologist who visits regularly and offers his services to the general public.
Specialized providers also visit patients, but work with specific groups such as children who have experienced trauma.
Kelly McGrath works for Moranbah-based organisation Isaac Navicare, which helps the town’s residents access mental health care and support services.
She said a long-term shortage of psychologists had led to more people looking for alternative ways to manage their mental health.
“There are many general things people can do to improve their mental wellbeing, including getting some fresh air and sunshine,” she said.
“Pets and animals can have a tremendous therapeutic effect.”
Dr Burgess said that while alternative therapies could be helpful, they should not be seen as a solution to Australia’s mental health crisis.
“Overall, the evidence shows that human interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy are by far the most effective method for treating mental illness,” she said.
Ms McGrath said that while programs like the one she worked for were beginning to provide residents of isolated cities with better access to support services, many residents did not know they could access them.
“People think there are still no services, when in reality there are more and more of them, like telemedicine, which is a really good option,” she said.
