Balance Equestrian

Balance Equestrian Boutique facility offering horse boarding, respite care, equine-assisted learning, and equine therapy in Invercargill.

💕 The sweetest kind of support comes in the quietest moments.Ruby has been a little under the weather recently and has s...
05/09/2026

💕 The sweetest kind of support comes in the quietest moments.

Ruby has been a little under the weather recently and has spent some time on and off yard rest while we kept a close eye on her.

We noticed she was becoming a little unsteady and struggling to get the deep, restful sleep she needed. So when the opportunity came for her to join Hannah and Sweet Pea in the mare herd, we were hopeful they might be a good fit.

And they have been absolutely wonderful for her. 🥹

Ruby has clicked so beautifully with the girls and has been enjoying some long, deep sleeps - with Hannah and Sweet Pea standing quietly nearby, keeping watch and offering her the security of their company.

There is something incredibly special about watching horses care for one another in their own quiet way. Sometimes support doesn’t look like doing anything at all. Sometimes it’s simply standing close enough to say, “You can rest. I’ve got you.” 🤍

And yes… that is Whinney in the background, very quickly making her way over because there was absolutely no way she was going to miss out on the photo! 😂

Peek-a-boo! 👀When the new haylage is this good, you just have to get right in amongst it! 😂🌾Safe to say, Dee approves. 💚
28/08/2026

Peek-a-boo! 👀

When the new haylage is this good, you just have to get right in amongst it! 😂🌾

Safe to say, Dee approves. 💚

Lewis loved his spring clip with AB Equestrian ✂️🐴 He’s already so much more comfortable doing his physio, and we’ve eve...
27/08/2026

Lewis loved his spring clip with AB Equestrian
✂️🐴 He’s already so much more comfortable doing his physio, and we’ve even had 24 whole hours of no paddock mischief… dare I say it! 😱😂

It was incredible to see just how many little scrapes and marks were hiding underneath his shaggy coat from all that itching.

We’re so thankful for his Horseware Ireland rugs, with their washable, removable liners. They’re perfect for helping him regulate his temperature in this erratic spring weather, while also catering to his sensitive skin. 💙

Here’s hoping the new haircut means more physio….a little less itching… and a little less mischief! 🤞

Lewis is diligently doing his physio for his knee, which is improving every day! As he gets fitter, he’s also getting ve...
25/08/2026

Lewis is diligently doing his physio for his knee, which is improving every day!

As he gets fitter, he’s also getting very sweaty and itchy…and with moulting season upon us, apparently every hazardous object he can find is fair game for a scratch! 😱

Clipping him will not only help him dry quickly after exercise, but hopefully save a few trees, fences and stable walls from becoming his personal scratching posts too. 🙈

Tonight he enjoyed a lovely warm bath, all ready for his clip with AB Equestrian in the morning.

Thanks Charlee - he loved it! 🥰

Maybe we need to stop waiting until we have something to show for the work.We’ve been thinking a lot lately about how mu...
22/08/2026

Maybe we need to stop waiting until we have something to show for the work.

We’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much of life is presented in before and afters.

We build, shape, learn and grow quietly until there’s something polished enough to share.

We’ve always been a little hesitant to do “before and after” photos here, whether that’s horses gaining condition or improvements around the property.

Perhaps because we don’t want the “before” to imply that something was wrong.

Because it wasn’t.

It was simply a different moment in time. One part of a much longer journey.

And what about everything in between?

The non-linear steps towards a goal. Forwards. Backwards. The side quests. The plans that change. The things we learn along the way that we never expected to learn at all.

So here’s a somewhat blurry picture of our “messy middle”.

Take three at fixing the front of our pad and sorting the drainage.

Not a before photo.
Not an after photo.

Just somewhere in between.

In the trenches of life, learning as we go. 🌿

Thank you AC Land Development for helping us in this part of our journey ❤️

10 DAYS TO GO… 🤎✨In just 10 days, Balance Equestrian turns 10! 🥳A decade of supporting horses and people, learning, grow...
20/08/2026

10 DAYS TO GO… 🤎✨

In just 10 days, Balance Equestrian turns 10! 🥳

A decade of supporting horses and people, learning, growing, muddy boots, big dreams and so many memories.

We’ve been thinking about how we should celebrate this pretty big milestone…

So we’re asking you.

What would you love to see us do for our 10th anniversary?

A big celebration? Something horsey? A giveaway? A special event? Or something completely unexpected?

Tell us your ideas below. 👇

18/08/2026

*Sound on!*

Lewis’s riding career might be on pause, but his music career is off to a promising start! 🎸

The first strum is Amanda, the rest are all him 🤭

17/08/2026

Why do animal-assisted therapies work for so many people?
A comprehensive 2024 systematic review suggests that the answer lies not simply in the presence of an animal—but in the unique therapeutic relationship that develops.

Researchers found that animal-assisted therapy shows promise across a wide range of populations and clinical settings by:

✔ Promoting wellbeing
✔ Strengthening the therapeutic alliance
✔ Supporting emotional engagement
✔ Showing positive effects in psychiatric, neurological and cognitive conditions

The human-animal bond creates opportunities for trust, safety and authentic connection—powerful foundations for therapeutic change.

At the Equine & Animal Psychotherapy Institute, we teach practitioners how to integrate these relationships ethically, safely and within an evidence-informed framework.

📖 Research
Pandey, R., et al. (2024). Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Enhancing Patients' Well-Being.
https://doi.org/10.2196/51787

For Research nerds: Consider visiting our website SHOP and purchasing our Equine Assisted Services and Animal Assisted Services Research Pack
The 2013 – 2025 EAAPI Collection https://www.equinepsychotherapy.net.au/product/research-and-evidence-base/

Saturdays at the stables ❤️
16/08/2026

Saturdays at the stables ❤️

14/08/2026

Message received, Sweet Pea. We see you! 😂 A lower scratching post is on its way. ❤️

Address

24 Bethunes Lane
Invercargill

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

0278820830

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Balance Equestrian posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share