Rhodes to Wellness Coaching
Last updated: September 2026
At Rhodes to Wellness Coaching, the wellbeing and safety of clients, students, visitors, horses and myself are important.
I am committed to taking reasonable steps to provide a safe environment across my coaching services, Equine Wellbeing Sessions and Equimotional Coaches Course.
Safety also includes recognising when something does not feel safe and being willing to pause, change or stop an activity when necessary.
This policy applies to:
Individual coaching and Root Cause Therapy sessions;
Equine Wellbeing Sessions;
The Equimotional Coaches Course;
Course-related activities and events;
Visitors and other people participating in or attending Rhodes to Wellness Coaching activities.
Different activities carry different risks, and appropriate precautions will be taken based on the setting and activity involved.
Reasonable steps will be taken to maintain a safe and appropriate environment.
Clients, students and visitors are expected to:
Follow reasonable safety instructions;
Tell me about any safety concern that arises;
Inform me if they are unable to safely participate in an activity;
Respect boundaries and designated areas;
Avoid behaviour that could place themselves or others at unnecessary risk.
I may pause or stop an activity if I believe continuing could create an unreasonable safety risk.
Working around horses carries inherent risks, including the possibility of being stepped on, kicked, bitten, knocked over or otherwise injured.
Before participating in an Equine Wellbeing Session, participants will be provided with appropriate safety guidance.
Participants are expected to:
Follow instructions around the horses;
Approach and interact with horses only as directed;
Remain aware of their surroundings;
Avoid sudden or unsafe movements around horses;
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear;
Never deliberately frighten, provoke or mistreat a horse;
Tell me immediately if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Horse behaviour can be unpredictable, and no environment involving horses can be considered completely risk-free.
Participation is voluntary, and an activity can be stopped at any time.
The wellbeing of the horses is an important part of maintaining a safe environment.
I will monitor the horses' physical and emotional state and will modify or stop an activity when necessary.
A horse will not be expected to participate when it is showing signs that it is uncomfortable, distressed, unwell, overly tired or otherwise unsuitable for the activity.
Horse welfare takes priority over completing a planned exercise or session.
Participants are responsible for informing me of any relevant physical limitation, injury, mobility concern or other circumstance that could affect their ability to safely participate in an activity.
I may recommend modifying or avoiding an activity when appropriate.
Participants should not participate in an activity if they believe doing so could place them at unnecessary risk.
Equine Wellbeing Sessions are non-riding sessions. Participants will not be asked to ride the horses as part of the service.
Safety is not only physical.
Some coaching and course material may involve emotionally significant topics or personal reflection.
Participants are encouraged to:
Respect their own limits;
Take a break when needed;
Decline an activity;
Let me know if they are becoming overwhelmed;
Return to an activity only when they feel ready.
No participant is required to disclose personal trauma or sensitive information.
Where an individual's needs fall outside the scope of the service, appropriate referral or additional support may be recommended.
For online learning, reasonable steps will be taken to support a safe and respectful virtual environment.
This includes expectations around:
Appropriate online behaviour;
Privacy and confidentiality;
Respectful communication;
Appropriate use of recording and screenshots;
Managing disruptive or unsafe behaviour.
Further details are provided in the Online Learning Policy and Course Participation & Professional Boundaries Policy.
If an emergency occurs during an in-person activity, reasonable steps will be taken to protect the immediate safety of those involved and obtain appropriate assistance.
Where emergency medical attention is required, emergency services may be contacted.
Participants are responsible for providing accurate emergency contact information where reasonably requested.
In an emergency, safety takes priority over confidentiality or the continuation of a session.
Participants should not attend an in-person session when they are experiencing an illness that could reasonably put others at risk.
Where appropriate, a session may be postponed, rescheduled or moved to an alternative format.
I may also postpone or cancel a session when I am unwell or when conditions are not suitable for safely providing the service.
Equine Wellbeing Sessions may be affected by weather and environmental conditions.
Sessions may be modified, postponed or cancelled when conditions create an unreasonable risk to people or horses.
Examples may include:
Severe storms;
Lightning;
Extreme temperatures;
Unsafe ground conditions;
Poor visibility;
Other environmental hazards.
Where a session cannot safely proceed, reasonable efforts will be made to reschedule it.
Participants are encouraged to report any safety concern, injury, near miss or incident as soon as reasonably possible.
Concerns will be taken seriously and reviewed to determine whether any changes are needed to reduce future risk.
Where appropriate, incidents may be documented as part of professional record-keeping.
I will take reasonable steps to provide safe services within my professional scope and training.
However, no coaching, educational or equine environment can be completely free from risk.
Clients and students also have responsibility for their own safety, including communicating relevant concerns and following reasonable safety instructions.
Health and safety concerns may sometimes overlap with safeguarding concerns.
Any concern involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, coercion or significant risk of harm will be addressed in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy.
This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to reflect changes to services, activities, risks, professional requirements or applicable legislation.
Policy owner: Janet Rhodes, Rhodes to Wellness Coaching
Review date: September 2027