Our team will work with you, learn with you and respond to your engagement with them.

Any horse at any time can show self-protective behaviours, choose the flight mode or react in a manner that is unpredictable.

The challenge of achieving amazing outcomes by truly connecting and engaging with horses creates the personal achievement and self-fulfilment as well as an amazing relationship with a remarkable animal.

Meet the team at Affinity EFL!

Me (Anita)

I have been working in the disability sector for many years. I am an experienced Developmental Educator with extensive experience in client support, service delivery, training and management. My delight is observing growth - independence, confidence, skills. I learned to ride in UK and on arriving in Australia in 1981 was ecstatic to get my first pony, a little chestnut filly called Trixie.

Ruby Susan

Ruby is the youngest of our herd and the baby of the family. She is by Brymar Amigo and out of Boruba Chasing Rainbows (Bon Bon). She is our mini princess. She has a fun and extremely inquisitive personality getting her nose into everything as she experiences her world and learns new things.

Ed (Natmana)

Bred in the UK in 2005, Ed is a British Thoroughbred by Alhaarth (IRE) out of Gracious Gift (GB). After a brief career in UK, he was brought to Australia. Ed travelled Australia’s racing circuit and had 57 starts, 3 wins and 22 placings. A red bay, standing at 16hh, Ed is our gentle giant. He adores being groomed and loves his carrots.

Banjo (Yearn for You)

A 15.3hh bay gelding by Real Desire (USA) and out of Left her Mark, Banjo is a standard-bred. Born in 2011 he entered a racing career and had 34 starts with 2 wins, 2 seconds and 3 third placings. Banjo is now living the good life as a therapy horse. He has a ‘teenagers’ personality and also loves his carrots.

Bonnie (Boraba Chasing Rainbows)

By Southern Cross Starmaker out of Kotta Park Wild Fire, Bonnie is a registered Palouse mare standing 86cm (34 inches). She is the mumma of our little Ruby Susan. We just couldn’t leave her behind when we acquired Ruby. Bonnie has her own opinions. Like most ponies she absolutely loves her food.

Lucy and Lilly

Lilly is our beagle, and Lucy our Labrador. They are very loved and very important members of our family. They both love to clean up the horses feed buckets, and enjoy carrots as much as their equine brothers and sisters.

Vinnie our home-made ‘barrel-horse’ made from a wine barrel and vineyard posts is an ideal ‘easy-keep’ pony. He is great for confidence building and skills development in preparing for mounted work. He has a gentle rock and is used to practice mounting, preparing the body for riding (light exercise whilst mounted) and is pure fun. He is our newest team member and compared with all the other team members - the quietest and least demanding of them all.

This is ‘Vinnie’ our ‘barrel-horse’

… and introducing Mabel!

Mabel joined the menagerie mid 2023. A very lively and friendly black labrador to complete the gang. She has grown so fast and is so keen to learn, to please, to play… She will always roll over for a belly rub.