Using Equine Therapy to Navigate the Silly Season - finding calm admidst the Christmas Chaos
As the calendar turns to December and the Australian summer kicks into high gear, there is a familiar shift in the air. For most, the Christmas and New Year period is a time of parties, presents, and planning. But for those of us in the veteran and first responder community, this time of year often carries a different weight.
Whether you are still serving on the front line or have transitioned into the next chapter of your life, the end of the year can be a complex landscape to navigate. We are trained to operate at a high tempo, to maintain a “tough front,” and to be the ones who hold it together when things fall apart. But as the year draws to a close, I want to ask you a question we rarely ask ourselves: Who are you when the uniform is off?
The Weight of Service
For 22 years in the NSW Police Force, my identity was inextricably linked to my role. When you spend your life responding to the needs of others, your own needs—and even your sense of self—can get pushed to the back of the rucksack. We become masters of the “mission,” but we often forget how to just be.
This holiday period, I am inviting you to lower the guard. Not because you are weak, but because even the most resilient system needs to power down to stay functional. True strength isn’t just about how much weight you can carry; it’s about knowing when it’s time to put the pack down and rest.
Reflection and Restoration
I encourage you to use the coming weeks to find some “quiet air.” Look back on the past twelve months—not through the lens of your professional achievements or the calls you attended, but through the lens of your own growth. Acknowledge the moments you chose to keep going when things were tough, and give yourself permission to feel the exhaustion that often follows.
The Australian summer can be intense, but I hope you find moments of peace—whether that’s a quiet morning on the coast, time spent in the paddock with a horse, or a simple BBQ with people who see you for you, not for your rank or your past.
Three Action Items for a Meaningful New Year
As we look toward the New Year, let’s move beyond “resolutions” and toward intentional living. Here are three things I encourage you to consider for your 2026:
- Define a “Non-Service” Goal: Set one goal for the year that has absolutely nothing to do with duty, work, or fixing things for others. Whether it’s picking up a surfboard, learning a new trade, or finally starting that garden, choose something that feeds your soul, not your resume.
- Conduct Monthly Internal Audits: We are experts at auditing gear and kits. In the New Year, commit to a monthly check-in with yourself. Are your stress levels creeping back into hypervigilance? Are you withdrawing? Catching these signs early is the key to long-term “operational” health.
- Practice Strategic Vulnerability: We’ve been conditioned to say “I’m fine.” This year, choose one or two “safe” people—a partner, a mate, or a therapist—to whom you can tell the truth when you aren’t okay. Breaking the habit of the “tough front” is the bravest thing a first responder can do.
From my paddock to yours, I wish you a peaceful, restful, and safe holiday period. Take the time to reconnect with the person behind the professional. You’ve earned it.
I am taking a break from December 21, 2025 to January 12, 2026.
Kelly
