Sarah* was involved in the Horses Assisting You (HAY) program after becoming trapped in a cycle of family violence three years ago with two children on the autism spectrum.
Suffering psychological, verbal and physical abuse, Sarah said losing control of her finances kept her trapped in the cycle.
“No-one talks about family violence and when they do it’s done secretively like it’s something shameful,” she said.
“And a lot of people, including myself, are ashamed of it. You don’t want people to know what’s going on because it’s embarrassing.
“But that only sweeps it further under the rug and makes matters worse.
“My situation eventually got to a point where I couldn’t tolerate it any longer.
“It took me three attempts to leave for good and thanks to some wonderful support services, I’ve come out the other side with my children.”
The most dangerous time in a violent relationship is when a victim decides to leave, so Sarah was one of the lucky ones.
Prevention of Family Violence Minister Gabrielle Williams visited Yea last week to see the HAY program in action and hear first-hand from those who have benefited from equine therapy.
Delivered by Nexus Primary Health, Primary Care Connect and FamilyCare, equine therapy is a relatively new form of psychological treatment in which clients spend time in a paddock with a horse.
The horse helps relax participants, encourages them to work through past trauma and helps them begin to feel safe again, taking psychology sessions out of the office and into the paddock.
The HAY program has been shown to decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress and has helped clients understand safety boundaries, identify emotions and reconnect after the trauma of family violence.
“The program was amazing for myself and my children. One of my children is non-verbal and working with the horses helped him to confront his fears and build confidence,” Sarah said.
“It’s helped me to build trust that was lost from the abuse. You’re scared of the horse at first, but you learn to trust it as it gains trust in you.
“Slowly building trust helped to bring back a voice in me that I had lost. I remembered I had a voice that I could use.
“I would encourage other people to get involved with the program and I hope it’s success helps bring about more domestic violence services.
“There needs to be more for victims but also for the perpetrators to work out why they do it.”
The Royal Commission into Family Violence highlighted the need for therapeutic interventions that are tailored to the diverse identities and experiences of Victorians, and the importance of strengthening the delivery of therapeutic services that focus on the needs of children and young people.
Ms Williams said the program was all about helping people recover from family violence in a safe and supportive environment.
“Spending time with these animals can have a calming effect, helping people who have suffered trauma build trust and overcome their fears,” she said.
“HAY has shown to be a great success, which is why we’re investing in more therapeutic services like this and ensuring these programs are available to all Victorians across the state.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au
*Not her real name.
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