Our core values are Respect, Responsibility and Relationships. These values provide the foundation of all our work, and our interactions with the world.

Our commitment to Constant and Never Ending Improvement means that we are always learning new things and educating ourselves about how we can better serve our Corporate, Personal Development and Therapeutic clients.

What You Can Expect From us

Professionalism

We are qualified and experienced coaches and facilitators in corporate, personal development and therapeutic equine-assisted work. We hold current First Aid and Child Protection Certs and are Garda Vetted. We are listed on the National Register of Therapeutic Horse-riding coaches, and we are insured.
We are also constantly up-skilling and deepening our knowledge and skills.

Safety

Our ponies are carefully chosen, well-cared for and constantly monitored for signs of stress, illness or injury. Our volunteers are Garda Vetted and trained, and their training is regularly updated. Every volunteer has been instructed in the Horses Connect Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy.

Respect

One of our core values is Respect so you can be sure that we are always mindful of that vital part of your experience with us.

Confidentiality

Any information shared with coaches is treated with the strictest confidence and stored in accordance with GDPR.

Flexibility

We will do our best to accommodate you in terms of scheduling or payment.

Horses Connect was founded in 2014 by Eileen Bennett and Mary Mitchell. We have been operating from our base in Western Stables, just outside Galway city in Bushypark, since 2015.

We are totally passionate about what we do and never cease to be amazed by how our horses enhance lives and businesses on so many levels.

We work with people of all ages – individually and in in groups – who are experiencing a wide range of physical, intellectual, mental health, personal development and other challenges.

We also work with companies of all sizes to design a unique and powerful Corporate Trainng experience for teams or individuals.

As well as being life-long horse people we are qualified and experienced Equine-assisted Personal/Professional Development Facilitators, Advanced EAGALA certified Equine Specialists and Therapeutic Horse-riding Coaches.

We also hold qualifications in Leadership Skills, Managing People, Mindfulness, Training and Coaching, Personal Development, Motivational Interviewing and more.

Our committment to Constant and Never Ending Improvement means that we are always learning new things and educating ourselves about how we can better serve our Corporate, Personal Development and Therapeutic clients.

We both hold current First Aid Responder certificates, have been Garda Vetted and we hold recently updated Safeguarding 2 qualifications.

Eileen holds a Masters Degree in Writing from NUI, Galway which we use to great effect for journalling exercises. She also holds a Post-Grad in Mental Health Promotion which provides a solid foundation for our Equine-assisted personal Development/Wellbeing programs.

Mary is a qualified and very experienced Special Needs Assistant, and the mother of an adult daughter with additional needs. This gives her a unique combination of skills and a deep empathy for working with children and their parents and siblings.