Experience the healing power of horses alongside professional mental health care
Horses awaken self-initiative and connect to us emotionally. Find your natural flow.
Equine Assisted Counselling and Therapy
Counselling in nature
Personal Development Programs
Team Building Workshops
Equine Healing Retreats
Private clients and NDIS supported participants
Shine Bright is accredited and registered with the Australian Counselling Association & the Equestrian Sport Federation Australia & International Equestrian Sport Federation.
ABOUT ME
Anne-Katrin Liebe
Sports Scientist M.Sc (Sp)
Counsellor M.A.C.A (Level 1) registered ACA
International German Equestrian Coach Level 2 registered EA, IGEQ
I was born in a picturesque town called Potsdam located in East Germany 1979. I trained and competed in gymnastics and horse riding from a very young age and went on to study Sports Science to become a Master Sports Scientist completing my studies successfully with the thesis Horse Riding – an opportunity for childhood development. Throughout many years of horse riding and coaching with the German Equestrian Sports Federation I made steady progress and became an International Equestrian Level 2 Coach.
Services
Shine Bright Equine Human Services is an Equine Assisted Therapy, Counselling, Personal Development & Team building centre and Equine Healing Retreat situated in picturesque Arcadia, just thirty minutes northwest of Sydney.
Experience your healing in a safe, private and supportive environment with gentle horses where you can move at your own pace in nature. Horses respond to body language and emotion rather than words this can create opportunities to practice presence, connection, calm, boundaries, confidence, and emotional awareness in a holistic way and in real time.
It offers a calm, nature-based approach where you can work alongside a qualified therapist and gentle horses. There is no pressure to talk before you're ready, and no horse experience is needed.
Escape the noise of everyday life and immerse yourself in a restorative experience where nature, stillness, and the intuitive wisdom of horses create space for deep personal renewal.
Begin your healing in a safe, private, confidential, and supportive environment where you move at your own pace.
Inviting you to grow to your best potential with the power of horses in nature.
Team building workshops help to enhance your life skills and interact more easily with others.
Let your soul, body and mind guide you.
Find your natural flow.
Equine Assisted Therapy, Counselling and Personal Development Programs, Team building workshops & Equine Healing Retreats
Carolyn McMurtrie
Our daughter has problems in adapting to new experiences and situations, and that is evidenced by quite high anxiety and high stress. We are so appreciative of Anne-Katrin’s patience and kindness as she has led her through the sessions with her beautiful horse Sterntaler. Initially she was extremely reluctant to interact in any way, but with Anne-Katrin’s quiet and supportive guidance, much has been achieved. After 8 sessions at Shine Bright Equine Assisted Therapy we have observed a much steadier state of mind developing in our daughter; situations that have caused stress and anxiety previously are now being approached in a much calmer and more reasonable way. This is very noticeable, and so important as her life goes on. There will be difficult situations, and we feel that this equine supported therapy is giving her a wonderful foundation for her future experiences.
Quite apart from that, the hour spent in such a beautiful environment…the trees, the bush, the animals…is just so beneficial. Many sincere thanks to Anne- Katrin and Sterntaler!
Anxiety - Selective Mutism - PTSD - Autism - ADHD - Depression - Down Syndrome - Trauma - Addiction - Difficult Life challenges
Equine Assisted Services for people all ages and needs
Shine Bright Equine Human Services is an Equine Assisted Therapy, Counselling, Personal development and Team building centre as well as Equine Healing Retreat situated in picturesque Arcadia, just thirty minutes northwest of Sydney.
• Begin your healing in a safe, private & supportive environment with horses
• Equine-assisted Counselling and Therapy can improve wellbeing, confidence, emotional regulation
• Creating real time opportunities to practice presence, connection, calm, boundaries, confidence & emotional awareness
• Move at your own pace
Services provided to Private clients & NDIS supported participants.
FAQs
It is an experimental form of mental health therapy that incorporates horses into the therapeutic process. Led by licensed mental health professionals and equine specialists, it uses ground activities like grooming, leading, and observing horses—not riding—to help clients build emotional regulation, self-awareness, and trust.
It uses ground-based interactions with horses to help people build emotional awareness, trust, and communication skills. Licensed mental health professionals guide the sessions, and no prior horse experience or riding is required.
- Better emotional control: Horses react to tension or calm, helping people learn how to steady their own feelings.
- Lower stress and anxiety: Being near large, calm animals helps soothe the nervous system.
- Trauma and PTSD relief: Ground activities help people feel safe while working through painful memories.
- Higher self-esteem: Safely leading or caring for a large animal builds real-world confidence.
- Clearer communication: Horses respond to nonverbal cues, teaching people to match their body language with their intentions.
- Stronger trust: Working with a horse helps people learn to trust themselves and others again.
- Mindfulness and focus: Horses stay completely in the present moment, which encourages humans to do the same.
- PTSD and Veterans: Veterans and first responders process trauma safely.
- Anxiety and Depression: The calming presence of horses lowers stress hormones and promotes mindfulness.
- Addiction Recovery: Patients build trust, identify hidden feelings, and practice boundaries.
- Autism and ADHD: Helps with sensory processing, focus, and social skills.
- Behavioural Challenges: Encourages impulse control and self-awareness.
- Physical Disabilities: Therapeutic riding improves core strength, balance, and coordination.
- Seniors: Manages loneliness and aging stress through grounded engagement.
No, you do not need any horse-riding or equestrian experience to participate in Equine Assisted Therapy.
There are no strict universal age restrictions for Equine Assisted Services. Many programs accept participants starting around 5 years of age and extend through adulthood and into senior years, though specific rules depend entirely on the individual provider's facility and focus.
- Young Children (Ages 5–6 and up): Many ground-based or developmental programs set a lower limit around age 6 because children need a baseline level of focus, safety awareness, and ability to follow instructions around large animals.
- Teens and Adults: A vast number of programs specifically target adolescents (ages 12–18) or adults dealing with trauma, PTSD, or anxiety, with no upper age limit.
- Specialised Groups: Certain targeted group workshops (such as veteran support or specialised youth programs) may enforce strict brackets like ages 14 to 18.
- Trained experts: A licensed mental health worker and qualified equine professional guides the therapy.
- Quiet animals: Programs use calm, predictable horses that are trained for this type of support.
- Ground work first: Many sessions happen safely on the ground through grooming or leading instead of riding.
Counselling works through a safe, confidential partnership between you and a trained professional. You talk through your thoughts, feelings, and challenges. The counsellor listens without judgment, helps you spot unhealthy patterns, and guides you to build practical coping skills and clear personal goals.
Equine healing retreat programs involve ground-based, experiential interactions with horses—such as grooming, mindful observation, and non-verbal communication exercises—combined with holistic wellness practices like meditation and somatic therapy to promote emotional regulation, personal growth, and trauma recovery.
Participating in an Equine Healing Retreat program offers profound psychological, emotional, and physical benefits by leveraging the intuitive nature of horses to foster deep self-awareness and stress recovery. Because horses are prey animals, they are hyper-sensitive to body language and energy, acting as living mirrors that reflect human emotions in real time. This creates a non-judgmental environment where participants can confront internal blocks without the pressure of traditional talk therapy.