Horses Helping Humans Australia

What Horses Helping Humans Australia does

Horses Helping Humans Australia is an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program operated by Sue Spence through the legal entity "Sue Spence Communications," headquartered in Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The program uses horse-led activities and the proprietary "Which Horse or Pony Are You?" framework to deliver facilitated learning experiences for client cohorts including at-risk youth, corporate teams, women, families, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence. Named delivery partners include Wesley Mission, Act for Kids, the Queensland Department for Child Safety, and corporate clients such as Device Technologies and Westpac, with academic affiliations at Griffith University and Bond University.

The core product is structured workshop delivery, supplemented by a facilitator licensing and training system under which certified practitioners operate licensed regional businesses across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and New Zealand. Sue Spence-authored materials include the book "Which Horse or Pony Are You?" published by Pan Macmillan in 2016, and the Learning Paddock online self-paced training platform launched to extend reach beyond in-person workshops. The business holds registered trademarks for "Horses Helping Humans," "Which Horse or Pony Are You," and "Sue Spence Communications."

Revenue is generated through three principal streams: direct workshop delivery to corporates, schools, and community organizations; facilitator training and licensing fees (A$1,900 for theory-only, A$3,250 for the complete practitioner pathway, plus GST); and book sales. The entity is a founder-operated private business with no disclosed external investment, and growth has historically been driven by licensing expansion, partnership formation with government and non-profit agencies, and recognition through awards including multiple Gold Coast Women in Business awards and the 2022 McPherson Community Achiever Award.

Name

Horses Helping Humans Australia

Legal name

Sue Spence Communications

Website

https://horseshelpinghumansaustralia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Horses Helping Humans Australia delivers Equine Assisted Learning workshops and a licensed facilitator training program for at-risk youth, corporates, women, families, veterans, and domestic-violence survivors across Australia and New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallebudgera

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Facilitator Training & Certification: Online self-paced theory training ($1,900 + GST) combined with horsemanship training ($3,250 + GST complete package). Training includes manuals, workbooks, PowerPoint presentations, online resources, and Zoom support sessions with founder Sue Spence.
2. Workshop Delivery: Revenue from delivering Equine Assisted Learning workshops to various segments including youth, corporate teams, women, veterans, and families. Workshops range from 1.5-2 hours to full-day sessions.
3. Facilitator Licensing: License fees for using Horses Helping Humans trademark, IP, branding, and accessing approved facility status. Licensees receive Sue Spence Communications logo for advertising to assure public and organizations of trained standard.
4. Book Sales - Horses Who Heal: Sale of Sue Spence's book 'Horses Who Heal' published by Pan Macmillan in 2016, available in print and ebook formats through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia, Kobo, and Apple iTunes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Horses Helping Humans Australia delivers equine-assisted learning workshops, facilitator certification training, and a licensed facilitator network across Australia and New Zealand. The core offering combines natural horsemanship on the ground (no riding) with personality profiling, body language analysis, and emotional regulation coaching for youth, corporate teams, women, families, veterans, and domestic violence survivors.

Product overview

Horses Helping Humans Australia offers a suite of equine-assisted learning (EAL) programs and training services centered around its core Equine Assisted Learning Training & Certification Program. The portfolio includes The Learning Paddock online platform, Youth Program for at-risk youth, Corporate Leadership & Team Workshops, Women's Workshops, School Workshops, and Effective Communication Workshops. Facilitator training consists of Theory Training and Horsemanship Training modules, with certification and licensing pathways available. The company also publishes the book "Horses Who Heal" and offers practitioner resource packs. The ecosystem is designed to scale through a licensed facilitator model across Australia and New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equine Assisted Learning Training & Certification Program The flagship licensed training program that certifies facilitators to deliver Horses Helping Humans equine-assisted learning workshops. Includes theory training (personality profiling, body language, emotional regulation) and a horsemanship component.
• The Learning Paddock An online training hub providing evidence-based resources for personal and professional development, including the complete foundational framework package with horsemanship and library access for certified facilitators.
• Youth Program A specialized 3-week horse whispering program for at-risk youth (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours per week) teaching natural horsemanship ground skills, communication, emotional control, and trust. Designed for youth workers, social workers, and family services referral.
• Corporate Leadership & Team Workshops Award-winning outcome-based communication training for corporate teams, delivered in three phases: workplace introduction, practice and integration, and follow-up support. Focuses on emotional regulation, body language, and leadership dynamics.
• Women's Workshops Workshops designed for women to develop boundaries and improve communication with family, friends, and colleagues, addressing emotional control and the fight-or-flight response through natural horsemanship demonstrations.
• Effective Communication Workshops Small group lessons teaching natural horsemanship basics (trust and respect), including horse agility presentations with certificates, ribbons and trophies, and recognition of personality types and body language awareness.
• School Workshops Workshops for school students promoting emotional well-being and improved boundaries through equine-assisted learning activities such as grooming, feeding, and leading horses.
• Horses Who Heal (Book) A book by Sue Spence published by Pan Macmillan in 2016, sharing the journey and philosophy behind the Horses Helping Humans program and how communication, respect, and emotional awareness through horses can transform leadership and life.
• Facilitator Licensing Program Licensed program enabling facilitators across Australia and New Zealand to deliver the Horses Helping Humans trademarked program after comprehensive training in horsemanship skills, people skills, and full intellectual property access. Licensees receive full IP training, use of the Sue Spence Communications logo, and approved facility status.

Quantifiable outcome

• High level of outcomes assisting with re-engagement back into school and study for youth participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mandy Probyn - Mandy Probyn Equine ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMandy Probyn developed the specialized horsemanship training component for Horses Helping Humans facilitators. She brings extensive experience in natural horsemanship, horse behaviour and safe groundwork practices. Her training includes professional online videos, step-by-step instruction, six practical tasks, video assessments, and personalized feedback. Ensures facilitators build confidence and practical skills to work calmly, safely and effectively with horses.
• Griffith UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Griffith University's Internship Program. Collaboration on presenting the HHH program and outcomes to students, integrating equine-assisted learning into academic curriculum.
• Bond UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecently started presenting to Master of Psychology (Clinical) students at Bond University on the HHH program and achieved outcomes. Academic partnership for education and research awareness.
• Crown Leadership International GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership for leadership and team development programs combining HHH methodology with Crown Leadership's offerings.
• Act for KidscoreOthersYouth services organization referring disadvantaged youth to the Horses Helping Humans program. Part of network of Youth and Family Service organisations working together across northern NSW and southeast Queensland.
• Wesley Mission BrisbanecoreOthersMajor youth services organization with CNAPY and CNAP programs successfully using the HHH Youth Program. Strong advocate recommending the program for young people and adults. Coordinator reports great success with youth program participants.
• Department for Child Safety, Youth and Correctional ServicescoreOthersGovernment department referring at-risk youth to the Horses Helping Humans program. Part of collaboration with youth and family services across northern NSW and southeast Queensland.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mandy Probyn Equine Connection: Australian equine-assisted learning and natural horsemanship provider that is explicitly a strategic partner of HHH (delivers the horsemanship training component of HHH facilitator certification). Operates in the same Australian EAL market with similar ground-skill methodology and customer base.
• Natural Lifemanship: U.S.-based organization offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and EAL training, certification, and workshops using natural horsemanship principles. Closely aligned with HHH's methodology of combining ground-based horsemanship with emotional regulation and trauma-informed communication training.
• EAGALA: Global Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association providing EAL certification, standards, and training programs worldwide. Directly comparable to HHH as a competing EAL certification body serving similar populations (youth, corporate, therapeutic contexts) with a global footprint.
• The HERD Institute: U.S.-based EAL training organization offering certification for facilitators delivering equine-assisted programs to youth, families, and organizations. Comparable as a competing EAL certification body with similar workshop-based delivery and facilitator training programs.
• Equine Psychotherapy Institute (Chiron): Provides training and certification in equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development, with a focus on experiential learning and mental health outcomes. Comparable to HHH in offering structured EAL/EAP certification pathways for practitioners serving therapeutic populations.

Broad incumbents

• PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship): The largest U.S.-based credentialing body for equine-assisted services, offering center accreditation and instructor certification across therapeutic riding, EAL, and mental health services. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the equine-assisted services certification space, though more focused on therapeutic riding than ground-based EAL.

Emerging players

• Horse Boy Foundation: Equine-assisted therapy organization focused on autism, neurodiversity, and trauma, using natural horsemanship and movement-based learning. Overlaps with HHH's youth and trauma-related segments (including Sue Spence's own autism/ADHD advocacy) while differentiating through a movement-and-therapy modality.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@horseshelpinghumansaustralia/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/HorsesHelpingHumans.AU
• Instagraminstagram.com/horseshelpinghumansau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horses-helping-humans-australia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Horses Helping Humans Australia