BBFF26 Guided by Horses

In Australia’s outback, where youth suicide rates are among the highest in the world, one woman creates extraordinary healing connections between horses and Indigenous teenagers. Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Western Australia’s Kimberley, Guided by Horses follows a group of Aboriginal young people whose lives begin to shift through an unexpected connection with horses. At the heart of the film is Professor Juli Coffin and Yawardani Jan-ga, the Aboriginal-led equine-assisted learning program she founded to create a culturally safe space where young people can build confidence, connection and a stronger sense of self. Having experienced the transformative power of horses in her own life, Juli understands the remarkable way these highly sensitive animals can respond to people without judgement. Through the experiences of young participants including Heather, Athena and brothers Lagee and Nathanael, the film reveals how individual relationships with the horses can open pathways to trust, belonging and new possibilities for the future. Some arrive feeling isolated or unsure of where they fit; others have faced assumptions about what they might be capable of. Around the horses, they are given space to communicate, experiment, find confidence and simply be themselves.