Andrea Hegmann
Owner, Instructor
B.A., Hons, PgDipCounsel, Equine Assisted Learning Practitioner
Andrea, with her extensive teaching background, has trained at Melbourne, La Trobe and Swinburne universities.
With a Diploma in Education, Andrea loves to work with children and leads a very fulfilling life that centres around what she is most passionate about; watching our clients develop and grow, through their interactions with horses.
Qualifications and experiences:
Certified Equine Assisted Learning Practitioner (The Equine Psychotherapy Institute, March 2020)
Graduate Diploma of Counselling
EA Level 1 (Show jumping, dressage, x-country)
RDA Level 1
EA Judge
EA competitor
International experience
Bachelor of Art (Hon.)
Diploma of Education
Cass
Instructor
Meet Cass, one of our passionate instructors at Unicorn Valley. With a background in youth work and program development, Cass brings over 15 years of experience to our team.
Armed with a Bachelor's Degree in Youth Work, she has dedicated her career to empowering young individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Cass's journey has taken her through various settings, but her recent focus lies in supporting vulnerable youth through animal-assisted learning initiatives. She finds great fulfillment in witnessing the profound impact that connecting with nature and animals can have on young minds, fostering both joy and a sense of calm.
Alex
Instructor
Alex is a dedicated individual with a profound passion for horses and horsemanship.
With a diverse education in equine studies, Alex's journey began with volunteering in the EAL community around 15 years of age. Her love for horses led her to compete in the state development squad for eventing and show jumping, while also obtaining her CERT 3 and 4 in equine studies, later pursuing a diploma at Marcus Oldham College.
In 2020, Alex has decided to channel her passion for helping others through the power of horses by training to become a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Coach (training in-progress), which is where she crossed paths with Andrea. Her expertise extends beyond coaching, with experience in racing and performance horse stables, with a deep understanding of natural horsemanship and performance riding.
Alex plans to further her training in the mental health and counseling sector, aiming to broaden her knowledge and career prospects. With her extensive background and dedication, Alex continues to make a positive impact in the equestrian community and beyond.
Claire Amsellem
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Practitioner
Claire has been involved with Unicorn Valley over the past few years. With over 14 years of experience teaching, she is a devoted and enthusiastic local Primary School Teacher.
Claire has been able to combine her passion for horses with her desire to provide young people with invaluable and exciting learning experiences beyond the classroom.
Unicorn Valley reflects Claire's sincere belief that working with horses helps to build invaluable communication skills, and develop the emotional intelligence required to cultivate, and maintain healthy relationships.
Along with her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Latrobe University, Claire is a certified Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Practitioner, having completed her studies at The Equine Psychotherapy Institute in March 2020.
"Claire, from day one, has been an incredibly knowledgeable and exciting extension to our dedicated group of teachers and instructors. Her deep-seated love for children and horses has added many new facets to our ‘ family feel’ at Unicorn Valley".
Andrea Hegmann, Owner Unicorn Valley Equestrian Centre