Teacher’s pets get tick of approval at boarding school

Being able to take their pets to boarding school makes the transition of moving away from home that little bit easier for country students.

Having pets at boarding schools has been shown to have a wide range of benefits.

Having a puppy to walk, a cat to cuddle or a pony to ride has many and varied perks for students whose boarding rules allow pets on site.

Research proves that just touching or patting pets can help people feel better, and a deep dive has shown pets may also help improve social, emotional, behavioural and academic wellbeing at schools.

Geelong Grammar’s director of equestrian Marina Oman has been involved with the school’s flagship equestrian program for 28 years and said the benefits of students having their pets on site were clear – not just for wellbeing but education.

“It’s really good for kids who are desperately homesick and who perhaps didn’t want to go to boarding school,” Marina said.

“When things are down, you have your horse there to hug and love.”

Geelong Grammar School’s equestrian team.

Students, and often their friends who may also be from farms or stations, could visit their horses every day, helping with the transition of living away from home.

“It can make their school experience much more bearable and helps with feelings of overwhelm,” Marina said.

“Over the years we have had kids who didn’t want to be here and didn’t want to board but stayed because of the fact they could have their horse here.”

Students with a horse at school had to take care of it.

“Students are expected to come down at recess and take their rugs off,” Marina said.

“We don’t do that for them unless they are away or sick. We just supervise and make sure they are responsible for their own horse. Even when they don’t feel like riding, they still need to come down and deal with it – rain, hail or shine.”

This taught new skills in husbandry, resilience, empathy and responsibility.

“Most of the kids, even when sick, will always come down and see their horse,” Marina said.

Geelong Grammar Year 12 student Tilda McKay, of Snakes Plain, NSW, said she loved being able to have her horse at school – it felt like a home away from home.

“Being a rural boarder, it’s nice to escape, go down to the EQ, and have a mental health break,” Tilda said.

“It’s an amazing community to be part of – everyone is so supportive. It’s the perfect place to go when I’m feeling stressed.

“Spending time with your horse is different than being with a friend; they have this calming presence that helps you recharge. Even just sitting in the paddock with my horse helps me remember where I am.”

Geelong Grammar School Year 12 student Odette Bell with her horse Poppy.

Fellow Geelong Grammar Year 12 student Odette Bell, of Toowong, Queensland, said having her horse Poppy at school helped her get back to something she loved after being at Timbertop.

“I’ve had Poppy for 10 years – he was with me when I was at home, so bringing him here feels like bringing a part of home with me,” Odette said.

“It’s good for my mental health too, it almost feels like having a family member here with me.

“At the start, it meant I didn’t feel alone coming from Queensland, and having Poppy also helped me make new friendships.”

Year 8 student Jeanne Harvey said she felt lucky to have her horse and best friend Benny at school with her.

“When I first got to GGS, I was homesick, so having my horse meant I had a friend to be with,” Jeanne said.

Geelong Grammar School Year 8 student Jeanne Harvey with her horse Benny.

“I would just go and see him, and it made me feel better.

“I like having lessons, and after school, my friends and I all get to ride together. I’ve had Benny for a year, it’s like a pet, but also different – gives me responsibility, and friendship.”

At Melbourne Grammar School, staff are predominantly residential so their families, including young children, and pets, live on site in the boarding precinct.

Melbourne Grammar School director of boarding Belinda Annan says the benefits of having pets in the boarding precinct were clear.

“It completely changes the fabric of our community,” Belinda said.

“I feel very blessed that we have tutors and families on site – it normalises the boarding process for students.

“I’ve seen many times when kids have been homesick or not feeling well, and being able to take someone’s dog for a walk, or sit with a dog or pat a cat – these things can make a big difference in the life of any of us, especially when we are a long way from home.”

Melbourne Grammar School director of boarding Belinda Annan. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Pets were soothing and had a way of helping students be calm but pets also helped with engagement, teaching interpersonal and social skills, and empathy.

“It definitely bridges friendship gaps,” Belinda said.

“With pets, we often have a group of kids that wouldn’t necessarily hang out together but the pets bring them together … sometimes having that neutral activity that isn’t forced upon them, can be a lovely starting place to form friendships.”