November 2024
As part of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Veterans’ Health Week from 13 to 20 October, Manager of Vasey RSL Care’s Ex-Service Accommodation (ESA), Amanda Smith, arranged for a group of five veterans from our Cheltenham site to visit ‘The Path of the Horse’.
Located at Trentham in Victoria and run by Dean Mighell, this is a charitable organisation that promotes healing and improving mental health through interactions with horses.
“Dean and Shona Boulton, who is an ESA resident and regular visitor to The Path of the Horse, greeted us, provided refreshments and an explanation of the program,” said Amanda.
Dean explained that the calmness and stillness that horses provide has had such an impact on his life, and this, combined with his extensive psychotherapy training has culminated in the equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy he specialises in.
“Dean showed us out to the covered arena and invited residents to interact with the horses as they were comfortable to do so.
“The horses were all so calm and it was great to see the residents enjoying the closeness and interactions with the horses,” noted Amanda. “It was clear that all the horses had their different personalities and Shona and Dean gave us information about how each of them came to be a resident on the property, as well as the differing ways they have seen the horses interact and help visitors.”
The Path of the Horse supports a wide range of communities and people – of different ages and experiences and from all walks of life. They proudly support veterans, as well as emergency service personnel and their families, NDIS participants, people with autism, and those facing challenges such as addiction, self-harm, grief, depression, anxiety and other conditions.
Their website answers the question: Why horses? “Horses possess an extraordinary ability to alleviate stress, and a truly unique capacity to share their empathy with humans. These gentle beings also excel at being great listeners.”
“The residents were invited inside for a delicious lunch: it was a great day and an experience that is truly special,” Amanda notes. “Thanks to Dean and Shona for hosting us and to Paul Franklin for driving the bus.”
