**Please note that during this episode Jess talks about chronic health issues and grief.**

How important is support throughout a career change? This is the thread that runs through this interview with Jessica Snape-Burns, who shares her 10-year journey with Amerron Acres - a Community Interest Company (CIC) in Edale that provides a tranquil, safe and nurturing environment for therapeutic healing to take place. Jess offers Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL), family visits, retreats and wellbeing workshops.

Jess had a strong draw to animal welfare from a young age, choosing to volunteer with injured and sick animals at a sanctuary as a way to spend time with equines. She  has always found comfort in the company of horses and set up Amerron Acres so she could share her special herd to help others on their healing journey.  

Experiencing her own health struggles, with debilitating and disabling neurological symptoms causing years of wrong diagnoses and deteriorating mental health, she was eventually diagnosed with a chronic spinal CSF leak. Although mostly better now, she knows the value of self-care, resting and taking care of our mental health as a priority.

You can read more about Jess, Director & Practitioner at Amerron Acres, on her website from which these notes have been adapted.

At the end of the interview, Jess asks you a question and offers really helpful advice too.

Here’s the list of questions that I asked Jess:

• How did horses first come into your life?
• How do you get to know a horse?
• Do the horses look to you for guidance?
• How can you describe each of their personalities?
• Was this building already here for you to use?
• Have the other horses had a more challenging past?
• Where were the seeds of this idea to set up Amerron Acres?
• What work were you doing before?
• What’s helped you through all of the challenges?
• Did you come to Edale with this idea to set up Amerron Acres?
• What’s involved in the logistics of getting the horses here?
• Can you tell us about your illness?
• What are your foundations for self-care?
• Who can you best help through your facilitation here?
• How do you facilitate a session with somebody who fears horses?
• Do you still get surprised by the results of your work?
• What role do the goats play?
• How can people work with you? What do you offer?
• How do you look after yourself in between sessions?
• Do you have a vision for what you move towards in the future?
• What’s the training you’ve done?
• What question would you ask somebody thinking about a new career direction?
• What’s the significance of 'Amerron'?

Amerron Acres links

Website

Instagram

Facebook

References

Horse Boy Method

PoTS

Eagala

Leap

Andrew Critchlow - interview on Wild About Kinder podcast

Recording information

This episode was recorded at Amerron Acres in Edale on 12th January 2024.

Correction

The name “Amerron” came from a very special horse named Amerron Rhia who inspired Jess to train in equine therapies and learning. 

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Final notes

Visit About The Adventure website to email Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Subscribe to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career change interviews and career coaching questions.

Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by Tiffany-Francis Baker.

Thanks for listening!