The Latest News at
Stable Surroundings
Honoured to be able to stand with fellow graduates, colleagues, other renowned professionals to present at the
Equine Assisted Therapy Australia
10th Anniversary Conference
21 - 23 September 2026
💫Presenter Spotlight: Jodie Riddock
The lyrics of the song ‘I Wear My Medals on the Left’ are particularly poignant for Jodie.
As a female Army veteran, one of the questions Jodie is often asked when wearing her medals is, "Are those yours?"
🐴This September, Jodie will present Boots, Bridles and Beyond: A Female Soldier's Journey to Finding Purpose and Identity after the Army.
Jodie's lifelong connection with horses began at just 10 years old.
Raised by her single mother in the Hunter Valley, NSW, she was introduced to horses by her grandfather.
🪖They became a constant source of resilience and grounding that would go on to support her through frequent relocations during her 17-year Army career.
After medically retiring from the Army, Jodie faced the challenge of rebuilding her life.
Her presentation will provide valuable insight into her experience navigating the transition from military service to civilian life.
💛She will discuss how horses supported her healing and ultimately led her to a new career as an equine-assisted mental health practitioner.
Jodie will also explore why identity, purpose and connection to community are so important for veterans, the 'Slowing Down, Being Present and Bottom-Up' approach, and practical pathways for veterans to access funding for equine-assisted therapy.
Today, Jodie is the founder of Stable Surroundings, an equine-assisted therapy practice based in Singleton, NSW, where she supports veterans, provides engagement opportunities for trainee soldiers and works with NDIS participants.
We greatly appreciate Jodie sharing her story and experience with us.
For conference tickets please visit:
https://events.humanitix.com/equine-assisted-therapy-australia-conference
Guest Speaker Role
Promoting Horse Aid
and Defining ‘Equine Assisted Therapy’
I was honoured to be a guest speaker at the recent screening of the Horse Aid Documentary of ‘The Healing’, hosted by Branxton Community hall, and sponsored by Branxton RSL Sub-Branch.
Co presenting with the Director of ‘Horse Aid’, Betty McKellar (ex Mounted Police Officer) and Peta Lowe of ‘Pegasus Connections’ (fellow Equine Assisted Therapist and lived experience as part of the Defence Family)
The theme was about promoting Mental Health & Well-being, and presented as a perfect opportunity to enlighten the community about Equine Assisted Therapy.
November 2025
Stable Surroundings as Guest speaker, promoting HorseAid whilst also enlightening the community to Equine Assisted Therapy - Singleton - Co-speaking with Peta Lowe of Pegasus Connections, and Betty McKellar - Director of Horse Aid
Equine Assisted Therapy integrates evidence-based psycho-social, relational and nervous system regulation approaches with experiential horsemanship/psycho-social activities to promote emotional well-being, connection and resilience.
Equine Assisted Therapy, such as the services offered by ‘Stable Surroundings’ and ‘Pegasus Connections’, falls in the middle - both enhancing and bridging the gap between what we know as traditional therapies (room based clinical psychologists), and ‘other horse related’ well-being offerings (such as Horse Aid).
Horse Aid (a non-therapy program, but rather more of an engaging environment) offers ‘One-Day’ Introductions, and 5 Day Residential offerings, for FREE for Veterans and First-Responders and is primarily a horse training program, designed to offer well-being experience through connection with other veterans and the engaging environment, of being around horses. As a charity with no government funding, Horse Aid relies on donations to provide these services. Please visit the Horse Aid website for dates to attend, or for further information about making donations.
** please note: there is a difference between the terminology and professional delivery of what can be considered actual ‘Therapy’…… compared to what can be seen as ‘Therapeutic benefits from an engaging environment’ and the content of the presentation delivered, was able to clearly define and highlight these.
September 2025
Who Am I ?
What a great question, to dive into our Identity,
who are we, who were we before, what made us who we are today?
In this podcast, you’ll get to meet the face behind Stable Surroundings, Jodie, the Veteran who became an Equine Assisted Therapist, the story of resilience and re-invention.
Jodie from Stable Surroundings - Equine Assisted Therapy - Singleton, tells her story in a podcast.
Watch the interview on YouTube
or Listen on Spotify
The Tiger Jam Podcast interview was conducted by Stephan Neuwerk, from Easy Tiger Psychology, a specialist in EMDR.
June 2025
Group Sessions for Veterans and Defence members - an ‘Introduction to Equine Assisted Therapy’
Sponsored by Soldier On
Three of these Group sessions, of up to 8 people, are being hosted by Stable Surroundings, at the Singleton Location, providing an ‘Introduction to Equine Assisted Therapy’.
And in collaboration with Seen and Herd,
another three Group sessions are being hosted at Kulnura (Central Coast).
You’ll meet both Tash and myself at all 6 groups, from June to November 2025.
Dates:
Central Coast - Friday 20 Jun 2025 (Completed)
Singleton - Tuesday 8 July 2025 (Completed)
Central Coast - Friday 15 Aug 2025 (Completed)
Singleton - Tuesday 30 Sep 2025 (Completed)
Central Coast - Friday 10 Oct 2025 (Completed)
Singleton - Tuesday 4 Nov 2025 (Completed)
Bookings managed by Soldier On through the Tri-Booking Link.
Stable Surroundings are Proud to be an approved practitioner as part of this important collaboration
With the pilot set to commence mid 2025, Stable Surroundings will be available for bookings for specifically referred clients through Workcom and TAL to partake in a well designed 12-session program aimed at improving the well-being of clients who are currently off work due to their mental health challenges.
The research side of this project is extremely important in promoting the benefits of the Equine Assisted Therapy services, with TAL and Workcom leading the way to a promising future.
As an graduate of Equine Assisted Therapy Australia (EATA) RTO no:41482, qualified through an Australian Counselling Association (ACA) accredited Diploma of Counselling and Certified Equine Assisted Mental Health Practitioner, I am proud to be equipped to deliver the ‘EATA Model’ 12-Session program.
This 12 session model is ideal for anyone seeking a broad educational and experiential self-learning journey, covering many of the basic evidence based therapy theories and models in specifically designed sessions.
May 2025
Animal Therapies LTD - Member Spotlight
Stable Surroundings was recently featured as a ‘Member Spotlight’ by Animal Therapies LTD (ATL).
Stable Surroundings are listed as an approved provider of Equine Assisted Therapy in the ATL National Directory, which makes this service eligible to be involved in the ATL Mental Health Outreach Program.
This means, any person making an application through ATL for assistance with funding to seek help via a series of sessions, can choose us from the directory to provide the service.
This honour allows me to mention what a wonderful organisation they are, in service to the wider community.
Not only have they created a National Directory to find appropriate services within your area, the money raised from donations is directly transferred into funding for vulnerable people to access up to 6 sessions with a practitioner of their choice from the directory.
You’ll see them mentioned on my FAQ’s page, recommended as a worthy cause for donations. Visit: Animal Therapies LTD
February 2025
It was extremely humbling, and an encouraging surprise, to be recognised in this way by the Equine Assisted Therapy Australia community.
As I embark on this journey of offering Equine Assisted Support Services in 2025, I feel encouraged that I’m heading in the right direction.
As the saying goes: Believe that what you do matters and will make a difference in peoples lives. Even if it’s just one person, you’ve changed their world - or make a difference to the world, one person at a time.