G.L.A.D - Growth Learning and Development



'When I am aware and acknowledge my own boundaries, I feel more freedom and a greater sense of myself.' JM, client


Lets work together

3 Steps to working with us



Step 1: The consultation



Your consultation will help you to clearly identify what you need and know how we can help. If you are happy, we schedule dates, times, venues, accommodation and payment options, and iron out any foreseeable issues that may arise. You will then receive your Welcome Pack outlining what we have agreed and any relevant documentation.



Step 2: Your programme



Our 1:1 and group programmes take place with the horses in the Forest of Dean, Online or On-site for organisations.

Duration can range from an intensified 1 or 2-days, a condensed 4-5 days or stretched over a minimum of 6 - 12 weeks - depending on your location and timing.

Training and workshops for organisations will be discussed, and where possible, agreed during the consultation



Step 3: Review & map your progress



An important part of your programme is review and map your progress. It will highlight where you were, the progress you have made and the next areas to focus on for you to continue to move forwards. We will then continue to work together or we take a break.



What Might Working with the
Horses Look Like?





Working with horses is your own unique experience.



You are not required to ride, sit on a horse, or even have previous horse experience. Your feet will be solidly on the ground the whole time.


All the horses ask of you is that you be honest with yourself, true to who you are and ready to be open to learning something new.


My role is to help you understand and make sense of your experience.



Together, we can lay stronger foundations for the next generation, nurturing the growth and evolution of young minds and hearts with compassion, dedication, and resilience.



About Me...





I fell in love with the idea of working with horses before I even knew what this work was or the direction it work would take me in.


I was a very confused teen and, even more confused adult.

My confusion was borne out of my inability to know and understand who I was in relationships. I was easily manipulated, needy, afraid to say 'no', and an over-sharer who felt I needed to be accepted by others to 'be' accepted.


It felt like there was an unspoken rule governing how to have a relationship and that I had missed that lesson! The penny dropped, when thirty years later, in 2014, I was introduced to horses and how they related to one another in their herds.


I finally had an answer to why I struggled in relationships, and why as a then, teacher, I witnessed the breakdown in communications between students, parents, and teachers, often with devastating consequences.


Fast forward 8years, I am now living and working in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire with my team of three horses, affectionately known as 'The Boys'. The key focus of our work together is empowering our clients to set and establish healthy boundaries.


It is both a pleasure and humbling to work with my team of horses and witness how they effect positive change in the lives of each of our clients.



Who are we?





Hi, I am Maxine Smith and I am an Equine Facilitator for Human Development.
I work in partnership with my three horses, affectionately, known as the The Boys.

We, my horses and I, work to empower and build resilience in our clients enabling them to create happy and healthy relationships with themselves and others, in all areas of their lives; personally, professionally, emotionally, mentally, physically, socially, etc

We work from our base in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
Alternatively, online programmes are available, along with my bringing our work to you, wherever you are.



Maxine Smith



The Boys



Views of the Forest of Dean



" I cannot thank you enough for the time I spent with you and the herd. The experience has had a profound impact on me and has significantly altered the way I view, perceive, internalise and respond to the people and relationships I have in my life. I am consciously aware of my behaviour and thoughts from what I learned in my sessions with you, but I also feel that subconsciously I am adopting a new pattern and learning a new way of being. I had no idea from the outset that this work would be so altering nor that it would provide me with a whole new perspective on life, one that I hadn't considered before. If you are reading my testimony, I would suggest that you are meant to, and that you are meant to contact Maxine to spend time with her and the herd and go through this life changing experience. I simply cannot recommend it enough"



L. Williams



“Maxine has a really calming effect on everyone around her. She has a very effective way of finding and delivering the right words to initiate the right thought processes needed to identify that change is necessary to move forward. She gives really practical and tangible tools for use throughout the programme and beyond to effect real transformation in outlook and reactions.”



WS, parent



Last year we lost our daughter suddenly. It was a traumatic ordeal for me and my family. I knew Maxine before and over 6 months had been considering getting together with Maxine and her wonderful ponies. At first I was extremely nervous but signed up for a course. It has changed my life by week three I couldn't wait to be with the ponies and the beautiful countryside where Maxine conducts her sessions. Maxine is such a wonderful, patient, caring and professional facilitator, she made me feel safe and cared for. My sessions have come to an end now but I know she and her beautiful ponies are there to help me in the future which is so comforting. I have found peace through this process and I know that I can help the rest of my family through their darkest times. Being with the ponies has given me such an amazing experience and made me feel free. I would highly recommend this truly amazing experience. Thank you Maxine



D. Davies



An absolutely amazing experience that continues to positively enrich and inform my mindset and decision making. I had no idea what to expect, but I'm so pleased I chose to undertake.
Max is incredibly friendly and professional creating a much-needed space to make you feel at ease and not judged. The impact of working with her horses (Polo, Pud and Duke), helped the young people I referred reflect and identify barriers and obstacles that were getting in the way of them making healthy and safer decisions.

The great thing is that Max provides ample opportunities to discuss what you want to get out of the sessions and go across to meet the herd beforehand. Seeing first hand what it gifted others, I booked several sessions and benefited greatly from it.



J. Ferdinand



Einstein said, we cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created the problem in the first place.



By inviting you to work with us in the beautiful Forest of Dean, we invite you to stop, take a breath and give yourself the time and space and, with the help of the horses, allow yourself to see 'things' through a fresh pair of eyes.


Get in touch

Contact us



If you would like to know how we might be able to help, drop me a line.








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