Wild Mirror Programme Overview
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Our Therapeutic Programme
Wild Mirror is a structured, nature‑based programme that supports emotional regulation, self‑awareness, and confidence through practical outdoor work and calm interaction with our ponies. Each group follows a clear session format that helps participants feel safe, understand expectations, and engage at a pace that works for them. Through practical activity, movement, and reflective practice, participants develop greater awareness of their internal state, build emotional understanding, and establish strategies they can use beyond the session. While our Primary, Secondary, and Adult groups differ in how activities are delivered, the core aim remains the same: to provide a supportive environment where participants can build skills, strengthen resilience, and experience themselves as capable.
Programmes for Primary, Secondary, and Adult participants
Wild Mane Compass
We use the Wild Mane Values and a compass Four Shields model to structure sessions.
It balances regulation, action, reflection, and closure in a way that feels steady and predictable for all ages.
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Regulation: settling, grounding, arriving.
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Action: movement, pony work, tools, outdoor tasks.
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Reflection: noticing what worked, quiet conversation, photo/video reflection.
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Closure: packing up, tidy ground, finishing clearly and safely.
Every programme follows this rhythm so participants feel safe, steady, and able to engage.
Our Team
Each session has a RAIC (Responsible Adult In Charge), ensuring consistent leadership, clear decision-making, and a safe structure throughout the programme. We have a clear structure within Wild Mane, including visiting professionals, where we follow strict safeguarding standards.
Our programmes follow a clear, structured process from referral to completion.
Session Flow
Session Flow (adjusted for group needs, weather, ponies, and visiting professionals):
Check-in
A steady, low-pressure start where participants arrive, settle, and let us get a quick sense of how they are stepping into the session.
Camp Setup
A practical task that brings everyone together quickly.
This may be:
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putting up shelters
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laying out equipment
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preparing the workspace
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setting up the fire circle
It encourages teamwork, gives participants a clear role from the start, and helps anchor them into the environment.
Equine Learning
Hands-on work with our ponies to build confidence, consistency, and relational awareness.
This might include:
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grooming
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leading
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understanding body language
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basic care tasks
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observing herd behaviour
It gives participants a structured, calming role and helps them settle through movement and gentle animal interaction.
Wilderness Skills
Practical, achievable activities that build competence and connection with the environment.
Examples include:
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safe tool use
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knife skills (appropriate to age)
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knot work
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shelter building
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fire safety skills
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environmental awareness tasks
These tasks encourage problem-solving, focus, and real-world skill-building.
Skills
A focused activity that develops a skill over time.
This could be:
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photography
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carving
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natural crafts
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environmental tasks
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creative projects
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group problem-solving
Sessions often return to the same project across the programme to build confidence and pride through completion.
Reflection
A short, steady reflection using movement, objects, photography, or conversation, whatever suits the group.
This helps participants recognise their efforts, notice what felt steady or difficult, and begin to understand their own patterns.
Closing Check-In
A final check to end the session safely, allowing participants to step out calmly, share anything they need, and leave with a sense of completion.
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Where Our Work Sits Within Outdoor Therapeutic Practice
At Wild Mane, referrers often ask how our programmes compare to Forest School, outdoor learning, or clinical therapy.
This table gives a simple overview of the three zones used across the sector to describe different types of nature-based practice.
It isn’t about what’s “better”, it’s about clarity.
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Zone 1 covers unstructured or lightly guided outdoor experiences.
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Zone 2 is where intentional therapeutic approaches sit, delivered through structured sessions with a clear framework — this is where Wild Mane belongs.
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Zone 3 refers to clinical outdoor therapy delivered by qualified psychotherapists.
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This table helps you see the distinction, understand our position, and recognise why Wild Mane can offer something deeper and more intentional than general outdoor provision, while not claiming to be clinical therapy.