Pony Pals Wrekin is an Equine Assisted Therapy centre set at the foothills of the Wrekin in Telford, Shropshire, where horses are at the heart of every therapeutic journey.
Our horse-led, child-centred approach supports children, young people and adults to develop confidence, emotional regulation and calm, guided by the unique connection between humans and horses.
Equine assisted work, alongside therapeutic approaches such as CBT, offers a powerful pathway to wellbeing, resilience and growth.
About Wendy & Our Equine-Led Approach
I’m Wendy — a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I’m also the founder of Pony Pals Wrekin, an Equine Assisted Therapy centre where horses are central to every therapeutic experience.
My work is grounded in the belief that horses offer something truly unique in therapy. As highly sensitive, social animals, horses naturally respond to emotional states, body language and energy.
Their calm, honest presence helps create a sense of safety and trust, often before words are needed. This makes equine assisted therapy especially powerful for individuals who find traditional talking therapy overwhelming or inaccessible.
At Pony Pals Wrekin, therapy is shaped through meaningful interaction with horses — whether that is quiet time alongside them, grooming, leading, or simply observing and connecting. These horse-led experiences support emotional regulation, confidence, self-awareness and calm, helping the nervous system to settle so learning and growth can take place.
Alongside the equine work, I draw on my professional training in CBT to support individuals in understanding thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and to gently build practical coping strategies that fit real life.
Sessions are always flexible, creative and child-led, planned around what you want to achieve and paced to suit your needs.
Above all, my approach is warm, respectful and person-centred. I aim to create a supportive environment where you — or your child — can feel safe, understood and in control of your therapeutic journey, guided by the steady presence of horses and informed therapeutic practice.
Our ervices are centred around Equine Assisted Therapy, with horses playing a key role in creating a calm, supportive environment for emotional wellbeing and personal growth. Each session is thoughtfully designed to meet individual needs, with the horse–human connection guiding the therapeutic process.
Our integrated approach supports confidence, emotional regulation and resilience, allowing individuals to progress at a pace that feels safe,
comfortable and empowering, guided by trust and connection.
Horse-led therapeutic sessions for children, young people and adults. We work on the ground with calm, guided interaction — building trust, confidence and emotional regulation in a safe, supportive environment.
Gentle, child-led sessions designed to support calming, connection and nervous system regulation. Ideal for anxiety, overwhelm, sensory processing differences and those who need a quieter, non-talking approach.
Alongside equine work, we offer evidence-based therapeutic support including CBT counselling and mentoring. Practical, person-centred sessions to build coping strategies, resilience and healthy change — at your pace.
Horse and animal-assisted therapy has been shown to benefit individuals experiencing challenges such as autism, anxiety, trauma, behavioural difficulties, addiction and learning needs. During sessions, we create a supportive physical and emotional environment where learning, mental wellbeing and physical regulation can take place naturally.
Humans and horses share many similarities. Both are social animals who rely on connection and a sense of safety within a family or herd. Positive interactions between humans and horses activate the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine — the “feel good” hormone — which supports emotional wellbeing and engagement.
For individuals living with challenges such as anxiety, trauma or autism, the brain’s threat system (the amygdala) can become overactive, increasing cortisol levels and triggering fight, flight or freeze responses. This limits attention and learning. The aim of Pony Pals Wrekin sessions is to reduce stress responses, restore calm, and support confidence, regulation and positive progress at a pace that feels safe and empowering.
I prioritise open communication with my clients. Whether by phone, email, or in-person meetings, I am always available to discuss your needs and provide support. Staying in touch allows us to offer the best possible care and adjust the services as needed. Feel free to reach out anytime; your well-being is my top priority.
