The Palms property with horse arena proposed for new business

A barrel racer on a mission to show how horses can help people has submitted a unique development application to the council for a local property with its own horse arena.

A Gympie barrel racer with a dream of combining her counselling and horse riding skills has submitted a unique development application to the council.

A material change of use application for a rural property at The Palms was submitted to the Gympie Regional Council on October 22, 2021, by Amy Eckford, who wants to host horse riding lessons and equine assisted therapy in the arena on her property.

Equine assisted therapy includes the use of horses to treat physical and mental health.

Mrs Eckford told the Gympie Times on Monday she was a recreational barrel racer who had competed in the sport for more than a decade.

Amy Eckford said she has been barrel racing for fun for more than 10 years. Pictured: Demon the barrel racing horse. Photo: East Coast Images.

She said her goal with riding lessons was to help other improve their skills.

“Horses have given me so much in life and I’ve always wanted to work professionally with them,” she said.

“I love helping people to improve in their general horsemanship and aim to help people not only understand their horses better but also themselves.”

Amy also has a diploma in counselling and wants to use her skills with horses to help others.

“I believe including horses in mental health care is a beautiful form of therapy for people who are struggling and would be interested in exploring their issues in this type of environment.”

The business would run from Mrs Eckford’s arena on her property, according to the application.

“Equine assisted therapy is confidential in nature and work is done on the ground with horses acting as they would in the paddock,” she wrote.

“This activity will be practised predominantly in the existing arena and occasionally where a herd of horses environment is required, the paddocks may be utilised.

“Riding lessons are also conducted one-on-one with minimal impacts to surrounds … Riding lessons will take place in the arena.”

Amy Eckford said in her application she would use the arena on her property for horse riding lessons and equine assisted therapy. Pictured: “up and coming” barrel racing horses Bucky (left) and Digby (right). Photo: Amy Eckford.

The business would run by appointment only visits from 10am until 2pm on weekdays, though Mrs Eckford wrote hours could occasionally extend from 4pm to 5pm.

Appointments would go for one to two hours.

At the time of publishing, the application was still before council.