The human race is facing fast changing and challenging times. While our society is technologically and materially advanced, many of us are internally struggling. In an environment where mobile phones and luxuries are replaced with nature and horses, John Houghton helps people on the path to happiness.

Tucked away on a secluded, riverfront property near Eden, NSW, are nine four-legged therapists. “The horses are my partners,” explains John. “The wisdom of the horse is inseparable from the wisdom that is inherent in all nature. When we discover this wisdom and make it our own, we develop selfless love and a passion for life.” In his mission to help people find happiness through horses, John has created a therapy programme called Dance of the Horse. Mid-life people have mostly been drawn to John’s programme. “Men and women who have careers and financial security, but are re-assessing their lives and searching for more meaning.”

One of the keys to successful therapy with horses, says John, is the practice of observing and listening. “Horses are continuously communicating how they feel around us. If we observe and listen to this non-verbal communication, we can become more self-aware. Another important element is contemplation which allows us to become effective listeners.”

John’s inclination towards listening, he believes, stems from an early age. “I was the middle child between two girls…need I say more?” he smiles. “I just found that there was little point in saying much. Looking back on my teenage years, there were plenty of signs that all was not well, but no one seemed to detect any of them. The fact that no-one could hear my silent pleas had a huge effect on me. I am very motivated towards attempting to hear what is not spoken.”

Adolescent circumstances culminated in John fleeing to the outback to work in the pastoral industry in one of Australia’s harshest environments, leaving dim memories of a sensitive boy far behind. Most of John’s adult life has been in the pastoral industry in north Australia, working large numbers of sheep and cattle from the back of a horse.

This further developed his observation skills. “Observing and listening to the non-verbal has become part of who I am. The more aware of this I became, the more efficiently I could work large and small numbers of animals alone.”

Alongside that was John’s reawakening desire to help others. “I saw the natural compassion of my then 11 year old daughter, which reminded me of how I was as a child.”

While still farming, John began to facilitate stockmanship clinics. He secretly felt that through becoming more aware of how we think, feel and behave around livestock, people could achieve greater self-awareness and therefore a path to a happier life.

The stockmanship schools became an embodiment of John’s internal transition. The breakthrough for John came when, after 20 years, he put farming behind him and followed his passion.

“I went to the US and spent a week at a ranch in Texas run by a mother, father and daughter team who are all doctors of psychology. They have turned their practice solely into one in which people and horses are brought together in a therapeutic way. It was a fateful visit. Their method contained all the elements that excited me.”

John then studied psychology as applied to a horse environment from the Institute for Conscious Awareness in Texas. He has since created his own, unique programme that “explores our deep connection with the horse in a way that is meaningful to our modern lives.”

Although John enjoys working with adults, he can see a lot of scope for using his skills to help youth. According to John, horses can teach us to be responsible for how our thoughts, feelings and actions affect others. They can also teach children effective ways to communicate. “Intimidation might work for some kids in everyday life, but better ways can be learned through horses.”

Similarly, horse therapy can help children who are being bullied. “ I’m working with a couple of kids at the moment who are having social problems at school. The skills they learn to communicate with the horse carry over to other relationships. They can also feel more confident knowing that they can capably handle and ride an animal so large and powerful.

I’ve always got along really well with young people, so helping them with horses feels like a natural evolution.