Where Horses, Heart & Healing
Come Together
Nestled in the beautiful hinterland of Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast
Welcome to Trusting Connections - Where the wisdom of horses meets the hearts of people
Here, in the hinterland of Mudgeeraba, something quietly extraordinary has been happening for years. Children, adults and families who struggled to find words found peace and calmness beside a horse. People who felt stuck began to move. Hearts that were closed, gently opened again.
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That magic didn't come from a textbook. It came from Star, Koda and Shadow.
I'm Joanne, an educator, trained counsellor and now, first-time author. After observing my horses guide children, as well as adults, toward healing in ways I never could have planned, I knew their wisdom deserved to reach further than our little paddock. Here, is where their journey continues, and you are so warmly welcome here.
A Book Born in the Paddock
Secrets the herd have always known and now in a story your family can hold.
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Over the years children would arrive tangled in worry, sadness and emotions they found difficult to bear, and within moments of being near the horses, something would shift. No instructions. No strategies. Just the quiet, steady presence of Star, Koda and Shadow, showing them exactly how to be.
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Hoofbeats and Heartbeats: Wisdom from the Herd is my debut children’s book, and it was born directly from those thousands of real moments with these three beautiful horses. Written for children and families to read together, it gently guides little ones, and the grown-ups who love them, to understand their emotions, move through big feelings, and find stillness in the present moment, just like the horses do naturally, every single day.
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If my horses can teach a child to breathe, to feel, and to trust, imagine what that story could do in your home.
Hoofbeats and Heartbeats:
Wisdom from the Herd
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My debut children's book featuring the real-life Star, Koda & Shadow — teaching children and families how to feel their emotions, move through them, and find stillness in the present moment, just as horses do.
The Horses Have Their Own Fan Club
Once you meet Star, Koda and Shadow, you simply never forget them
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Nobody planned it, but over the years, the children and families who spent time with my horses fell completely head-over-heels in love. They also gathered their very own local fan base and cards and hand drawn pictures arrive in the mailbox addressed to the horses regularly.
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Star, Koda and Shadow have given so much of themselves, so much patience, so much presence, so much love, to so many children and families over the years. They are not just animals on a property. They are family. They will always be family and they are very much still here, still watching from the paddock, still teaching anyone who takes a quiet moment to notice them and stop to connect and say hello.
”Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
"I see your uniqueness that is essentially you and I accept that beauty without judgement. I feel your energy so that I can respond to you with authenticity to help you discover & connect to who you really are, with curiosity, kindness and acceptance of yourself."
by Joanne Oakes
From Counselling Room to Children's Author
The long way around always leads somewhere worth going
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Over the years, working as a registered counsellor with children and families, with some of their most tender, difficult moments was an honour and privilege. To be doing so beside my horses in the Mudgeeraba hinterland, offering equine assisted counselling made it even more special, particularly for those who needed something different to the traditional four walls of a therapy room.
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I still work in education, as it has always been close to my heart, and I carry everything those years of counselling taught me into the way I show up for children every single day.
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But somewhere along the way, the horses whispered something new. Write the book. Share this. Let more families in.
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So that is what I am doing. I am new to the world of being an author, and to be honest, it’s equal parts terrifying and thrilling, but I have never felt more certain. The wisdom Star, Koda and Shadow carry deserves to live in the hands of families everywhere, not just those lucky enough to find our paddock.
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If you’re a parent looking for a gentle, meaningful way to help your child understand their feelings, I think you are in exactly the right place.
Come and meet the herd. I have a feeling you'll love them as much as we do!
