Mane Insights

MANE INSIGHTS

A place of connection and wellbeing whilst providing skills of empowerment

Our COVID story

Like so many others we have yo-yoed from the lows of anxiety, anger, and frustration, to the highs of the unfailing generosity of people, and hope in a future that we can’t yet see. 

On March 23rd this year, as with many others, we had to close our core business Gunnamatta Trail Rides due to COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria, Australia. 

Overnight, we lost our livelihood, as well as that of the 20 staff we had to let go. We still had more than 50 horses to feed and care for, let alone fixed business costs such as rent, property maintenance and insurance in the thousands each week. Our business had otherwise been healthy. 

It was such an eye opener for us to see friends, businesses, local communities and complete strangers offer us the much needed help – people dropped off bales of hay and feed, others offered their properties for agistment…the list is long, distinguished and truly humbling.

We came to the realisation that our business would never be the same again, and that we needed to change our business model if we were to survive the next phase.

Adaption to change and uncertainty has had a massive impact on our overall mental health and wellbeing. 

In order to address these concerns, we have called upon the expert assistance from our incredible horses.

Meet, Mane Insights, a program that focuses on not only mental health and wellbeing but also instils core skills required to cope in this new world with resilience, empowerment, focus, mindfulness, and self-regulation amongst many other key factors. 

All of this is played out with the assistance of our extraordinary team of 4 legged coaches. 

Our tailored programs deliver structured outcomes for organisations, communities, families, and individuals needing improvements in their overall wellbeing and direction in this new life! 

Our mission is to create a place of connection and wellbeing whilst providing skills of empowerment.

The Solution:

In a world that is changed fundamentally, we knew we needed to build resilience into our business if we wanted to survive. 

As a result, over these last 6 months, we have seen the importance and need to improve our connections and wellbeing program and morphed it into a more in depth program with the priority on :

• resilience
• focus
• mindfulness
• purpose
• change management and adaptation
• pivot methods on coping with stress and anxiety
• empowerment

Set among the rolling green hills of the Mornington Peninsula, Gunnamatta Trail Rides provides the equine coaches and space to create the Mane Insights Equine Activity Centre which is the next phase in the program’s development, and the focus for this funding.

We need to create an environment and purpose built facility from which to run our equine-enabled resilience and wellbeing programs.

Horses don’t judge or make assumptions, but they are the experts in reading something that is internally or externally affecting us.

Mane Insights delivers this feedback through extensively tailored exercises with our horses that allow these skills to manifest and develop into reflections on today’s challenges and demands.

Mane Insights will work on a membership model open to individuals and organisations that can take part in the program and use the facilities that have been setup through this campaign.

With the development of our MI app to support the Mane Insights program of activities we will provide powerful and meaningful experiences.

Mane Insights is a lifestyle change for individuals and an essential survival tool to enhance our wellbeing.

The Challenges:

We are working closely with the Mornington Peninsula Shire to gain the permit approval as quickly as possible.

This is the only foreseeable delay to the progress of this project.

How The Funds Will Be Used:

We have developed our Mane Insights program but what is missing is an environment from which to operate. Our barns are fine for four-legged friends but not so great for those on two legs! This ‘break away’, open air facility will help our members to switch off, destress and open their minds to learning. 

To keep our environmental footprint minimal, we wish to install 3 purpose built converted shipping container pods fitted out with the necessary needs, including shelter to facilitate our programs. Details of which are included below.

Simply put, Mane Insights needs an environmentally sustainable home, one that is away from the hustle and bustle of life, where members feel safe, secure, relaxed and open to new experiences.

STAGE 1:

• 1x Eco Pod - Supply, Construction & Installation         $29,000
• Solar panelling for electricity                                          $   6,000

      TOTAL                                                                               $35,000

STRETCH GOAL:

• +2x Eco Pods - Supply, Construction & Installation    $55,000