River Road Equine Assisted Learning Inc

11/01/2025

As the founder and president of River Road Equine Assisted Learning Inc, it is with profound sadness we say goodbye to the Sunshine Coast and the property where RREAL all started in 2017.

I had an epiphany … a calling… 15 years ago to study and learn how to help humans through horses with equine assisted learning.
To be able to say this dream was realised and I got to live the dream, is humbling - and I mean that with deepest gratitude.

On a personal level, life threw some curve balls , but I played on with the hand that was dealt.
Divorce forced the sale of this property in 2020. I chose to lease it for 5 years to stay on and continue RREAL. That time is now up.

So much lived and so much learned.

Mother Nature showed us she could be heart breakingly brutal as well as breath takingly beautiful.

I experienced the best and worst of people.
To the (fortunately very few) people over the years who lied to, stole from and defrauded a charity - thank you for the lesson.
Your dark ugliness showed the way to a multitude of silent heroes in our Sunshine Coast community.
Their light far outshines the bad - I choose to remember them, not you.

I will forever remember the beauty and peace of Maroochy river - the uninterrupted view of Mt Coolum. It was a privilege I never grew tired of calling home.

To our wonderful clients - children, teens, families - whom I delivered thousands of EAL sessions to - thank you 🙏 You taught me more than you will ever know.

RREAL would not have been possible without the help and dedication from a core team of dedicated supporters. A very special thank you to the following people and groups:-

Dakota Patterson
Di and Ken Dawson
Jennifer Miles
Hayley Butler
Kylie Robb
Niqui Branchu
YouTurn
Coolum Lions
Maroochy Men’s Shed
Quota Coolum Beach
Dan Purdie
Surfside Accounting
Knappick Family
Alceon
Sundale Community Foundation
Katrina Nicol Herd Together Inc
Our amazing River Road neighbours (the Trevor and Leech and Petersen families) who were always around to lend a helping hand.
You are all so very appreciated.

And especially and mostly, the wonderful RREAL herd. They are the magic and core of what EAL is and what EAL does.

So while RREAL is finishing on River Road, it will continue. The end of this era sparks a new dawn in a new community. It will take a little time to establish and get running again.
My heart right now is heavy and my body and soul are bruised…. but not broken.
The need and calling to do this work is still strong. It’s time to regroup, reestablish and rebirth.

Now more than ever, people are hurting and struggling …. The role horses play in healing is real and there is a growing need for EAL/EAP services not only on the Sunshine Coast, but in all communities.

So many wonderful memories were made while living the dream of helping humans through horses. It was an honour.

Lisa