Managing Director - Deirdre Ryan
Deirdre brings over 30 years of experience in senior leadership, coaching, and facilitation within central and local government, education, parks and recreation, and social services. With her first-hand experience of leadership through the response and recovery phases of the Canterbury and Kaikoura earthquakes, Deirdre is a specialist in leading teams through uncertainty.
Deirdre holds a Bachelors Degree and Post Graduate Diploma from Lincoln University with a focus on management and commerce.
“I didn’t grow up in a horsey family, but I have always been obsessed with horses. Since a young age, I would do anything I could think of to be near them. There was something about them that helped me feel seen, heard, understood and calm.
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Through Salta Horses, I have finally merged this lifetime connection with horses and my passion for experiential learning, training and leadership coaching.
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I have been certificated in equine assisted learning since 2011. I am also currently undertaking study in Equusoma: Horse - Human trauma recovery. I am trained as a partnership broker with Thought Partners and have recently completed Kaila Colbin's Dare To Lead programme based on the research of Brene Brown.
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Every day I feel humbled and privileged to be part of making a difference for as many humans and horses as possible, through this amazing work.
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Spanish horses are my inspiration. They have shown me that to realise our potential we really do need to ‘take the leap’; the word ‘Salta’ is Spanish for ‘leap’.”
Our horses
Our herd are central to your Salta Horses experience. They have come to us through different pathways, some from a life of hardship and trauma. In spite of what they may have been through, they welcome us into their lives and do their best for us. Such is their extraordinary generosity and warm-hearted spirit.
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Our care for the horses encompass four key areas, nutrition, environment, health and behaviour. Under these four pillars we have tried as much as possible to replicate the natural environment where their ancestors thrived. The horses live together as a herd, with continual access to forage. We tend to them daily to ensure they are healthy and we allow them the space to just be horses.
It is our job, as guardians of the Salta Horses herd, to ensure that their physical, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing is upheld. The horses do not work every day, and if they are unwell they receive prompt veterinary treatment and time off.
Our people
The Salta Horses team combines 30 years of senior leadership experience with qualifications and training in organisational learning and development, psychology, communications, coaching, group facilitation, and horsemanship.
Bringing together our welcoming people and gentle, generous horses, creates a supportive environment for you to tune into what really matters for you.