How we started
In March of 2018, founder Clemmie Wotherspoon undertook a four-month, solo, horseback trek through Australia with three brumbies— wild Australian horses. She was supported by Australian Geographic and used the trek to raise awareness of Equine Therapy.
She rode from Melbourne to Canberra, catching and training three more brumbies along the way in Kosciusko National Park. The new brumbies- Tumbarumba, Jagumba, and Naas- were at risk of losing their lives in the Snowy Mountains, due to a seven-year period of significant drought and wildfires.
After this epic adventure, Clemmie and her team of brumbies migrated to Byron Bay where they began their beloved equine therapy centre, Byron Bay Equine Therapy.
Our horses
Our ‘co-therapists’ are a team of four gorgeous brumbies — Zulu, Tumbarumba (daughter), Jagumba (mum), and Naas (son). Tumby, Jagumba, and Naas are wild horses rescued from Kosciusko National Park in Victoria, Australia.
The needs, desires, preferences, and motivations of our animal family are respected and prioritised. We allow our animals to have a voice and autonomy in their interactions with humans.
We ensure that our horses…
- Have access to forage, water, and minerals, 24/7
- Receive bodywork such as massage and osteopathy
- Have ample respite from humans
- Take frequent breaks when at work
- Never use bridles (bitless only)
- Are allowed to say ‘no’ if they don’t want to join an activity
- Only interact with humans who are trained to understand horses’ expressions of threat and safety
- Have ample space to access time away from humans during sessions
- Have a 20-acre paddock with fresh water, forage, shelter, and healthy herd members
