Welcome to Pony Partnerships
What we offer
We offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine Assisted Learning, Group sessions, CPD training for professionals, Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Clinical Supervision.
Our Mission
To support personal development and learning through the power of horses and to provide an evidence base to expand the provision of this powerful model of work.
Paddy
8 year old gelding
Paddy came to Moo Haven as unmanageable and unrideable. He is now a wondefully kind and understanding pony. He still struggles with trust sometimes and scares easily but he is coming on amazingly every day.
Winehouse
10 year old Lurcher
Winehouse has been with Danielle since she was rescued at 4 months old. She is a lovely dog who is very loving, loyal and often hilarious! Winehouse is trained as a Pets As Therapy dog and often accompanies Danielle in her work with clients
Our Team
Teddy
8 year old gelding
Lola
8 year old mare
Pepper
8 year old mare
Teddy came to Moo Haven due to being extremely fearful. He has been amazing with clients and is growing in confidence all the time - especially where there are carrots involved!
Lola was due to be put to sleep due to an issue with her hind leg and no longer being able to be ridden. She was put into rescue, and after some time off out in the field, she recovered fully and now loves nothing more than going out for a ride and getting ear scratches whenever she can!
Sarah Watson
EFP/L
Pepper lived as a companion pony from when she was ten months old. She got put into rescue when her owners could not afford to keep her. Pepper started her ridden education at 8 years old and has come on in leaps and bounds! She loves fuss and following people around the field!
Michaela Despot
EFP/L
Puzzle
1 year old cat
Puzzle has been with us since she was a kitten. She was abandoned by her mother and was rescued by a family friend. Puzzle lives at the field and is Chief Pest Control - she LOVES fuss and is very partial to a cuddle.
Sarah has joined the Pony Partnerships team, although Danielle and Sarah have a long working relationship out of Sarah’s site at Life on Dreams, Swadlincote. Sarah is an integrative psychotherapist and has worked in addiction treatment centres, clinical settings and with the YMCA offering counselling and equine facilitated therapies to adults and young people. Her background as a professional equestrian, riding instructor, foster carer and youth worker brings a depth of experience to our offering at Pony Partnerships that isn’t just about therapy. She has worked in forest settings with young people and hopes to help our young people find different ways of being outside and connecting with nature.
Michaela has had a passion for horses since she was a child and was fortunate to learn to ride from the
age of 7 years old. Michaela believes in the therapeutic aura of being around horses and the therapeutic
value of horses at therapists. Michaela completed her Equine Assisted Psychotherapy training at LEAP
in September 2018, having gained a Diploma Level 5 with The Crossfields Institute: The LEAP Method.
Michaela is a qualified mental health nurse whose background is in the specialist area of eating disorders; she has worked within the NHS in an inpatient setting for over 12 years. Michaela currently works within a specialist perinatal inpatient and community team.
Michaela lives with her family, her beloved dog, and owns two horses.
Pony Partnerships offers a unique environment where you can explore ways to improve your life.
Not everyone finds it easy to relate in a traditional way - the expectations attached to room based therapy, where we sit face to face, may feel overwhelming to some people. Here at Pony Partnerships, we offer a unique flexibility in the way that we work.
Therapy can be designed to suit the client, rather than expecting the client to fit into the therapy.
We have the capacity to work creatively, by building relationships with our therapists, as well as our animal partners, and the outdoor environment in which we are based.
We offer a free 30 minute consultation where you can come and meet us and the animal team, and see what you think. We are located close to Derby City Centre and have parking facilities. We are also close to many bus routes in Alvaston.
We can also offer sessions at Rosliston, near the forestry centre - please follow this link for more information
