The Healing Power of Horses
Sarah Kekoa has built a community-based business working with horses to help autistic children face their fears and overcome trauma. I caught up with her at her farm in Summerbridge, North Yorkshire, where she told me more about Autism Angels.
Tell us a bit about you and how you came to be in Yorkshire?
I was actually born in Sydney, but when my parents got divorced, my English mum came back to England. I was about 10 years old when we settled in Yorkshire just between Harrogate and Ripon. I always say I was Aussie-born but Yorkshire made.
What inspired Autism Angels?
My Mum fostered over 42 children throughout her life, and eventually opened a care home near Masham. It wasn’t a care home in a traditional sense - she wanted to do things differently. When me and my sister were kids we lived there with the eight other children she took on. Mum had a sister with a profound disability, so we spent a lifetime growing up being around people who needed a different kind of set up. It taught us that its not that people can’t do things, just needs are different, and some people need to do things another way. This has obviously stuck with me, as my interests are healing, facing fears and trauma recovery.
How did you get Autism Angels up and running?
I trained with horses in equine therapy, which can support addictions, loss, and lots of other conditions. I felt the horses had similar traits to people on the spectrum, specifically in how they deal with and process fear. I could clearly see the translation between horses and people. At first Autism Angels was about just working with children, but it’s now about working with their families and the community; its a holistic approach. I originally started it alongside my previous business which was mostly doing corporate training (with horses), but eventually realised I couldn’t do both. I knew I wanted to focus on the families, so sold my first business allowing me to fully focus on building this community. It’s now been 12 years since Autism Angels began.
What does it mean to you personally?
Autism Angels means a phenomenal amount to me. Because of mum’s relationship with her sister and the other children she cared for, it often felt like she wasn’t around much. I feel like I’m taking the learning from this (the good my mum did) but including the families of the kids who come here. The horses have seen me through some of my toughest times, so I understand how they can help with overcoming fears, trauma, and promoting healing. . .I’m a free spirit, and love being out in nature. This business is me, a full expression of me, and my own journey.
What are you most proud of?
This makes me emotional to think about. I’m very proud of the children we care for. They are amazing and mean I can follow my dream. I’m incredibly proud of the community we’ve built - my team, the volunteers, the families. We help people make friends, and build their lives up. We are a safe place. Trauma can knock people off their feet - I want to show people how to overcome it. I’m also proud of what I have overcome personally, to get here.
What’s the single biggest lesson Autism Angels has taught you?
That consistent small steps equal success is my biggest learning. Before it was all about big, loud, outward marketing. But organic, slow, consistent growth, to keep showinging up, being yourself, and supporting others is what its about. Nothing flashy. What we have is deep and meaningful, safe, and secure, but basic. We’re built on gentle but solid foundations.
