Horse Assisted Therapy for cancer patients in Dubai

Living with cancer is one of the most challenging journeys a person can face.
So is caring for someone who has it.

I started FeelQuest because I knew that sometimes, being alongside a horse in nature, touching, feeling, making something with your hands, or simply being held in a supportive group can shift something. Something that is hard to reach in talk therapy alone. 

Back in 2023, I was approached by a very strong woman who asked me if I would support her vision of helping cancer patients in Dubai.
Since then, we have been running horse assisted therapy and art therapy programs in Dubai for cancer patients, their families, and children.
The sessions are gentle, grounding, and carefully designed – combining emotional skills coaching, horse guided empowerment, and art therapy into a single, powerful experience.

No horse riding is involved.
No experience is needed.
Just a willingness to show up.

"I released long held deep seated emotions, which was a tremendous relief."

I look back at many touching memories from these sessions.
A woman who was sobbing as we gathered, unable to introduce herself because she was in such fear.
She wasn't sure if she would be able to see their little girl grow up...
One hour later, hugging the horse, the same lady was smiling and truly able to enjoy at least the here and now.
In the subsequent coaching sessions, she was able to articulate her feelings and started small steps to regain control over certain areas of her life. 
Her life has shifted a lot since, and her daughter is growing up beautifully alongside a loving mother.

Or another one, wheelchair bound at this point.
Her husband drove her to the stable and helped us bring her to the horses.
When the mare was standing next to her, gently lowering her head, closing her eyes, nobody said a word. 
Words didn't matter here, just the feeling that someone supports you exactly where you are. 

This lady is no longer with us, nor is the mare.
For both, their time on this earth has come to an end.
At the farewell celebration, the family put up a photo of this woman, receiving a kiss from the pony.
A memory that will stay with me forever.

A full coaching program

What makes these courses different is not the horses alone.
Before anyone sets foot near the stables, there is a conversation - a careful, personal briefing to understand where each participant is in their journey and what they need from the experience.
The session itself weaves together emotional skills coaching, horse guided empowerment, and art therapy into something that moves at the pace of the person, not the program.
Briefing and reflections are combined with coaching models, ensuring that the experience is translated into actionable steps, and we empower participants to let go of what they cannot control, and focus on what they can.

Also afterwards, the work continues - follow-up, reflection, and support that extends beyond the course.
The horses are the heart of it.
But they are held within a professional therapeutic journey that has been thoughtfully designed from the first contact to the last.

The people behind the program

Virginia Handley is a certified Cancer Coach and Art Therapist with a Masters in Expressive Arts Therapy. 

She has been living with blood cancer for over 15 years.
She does not just understand the cancer journey - she lives it.
That changes everything about how she holds a room, how she listens, and what she makes possible for the people in her sessions.
Virginia works with patients at Al Jalila Children's Hospital and Majlis Al Amal in Dubai and is the main driving force behind this program.

Monica Kubik is a certified Horse Guided Empowerment® Coach who has worked with individuals and organisations across the UAE since 2006.
She creates the conditions for people to connect with horses in a way that feels safe, purposeful, and genuinely transformative.
She has seen what happens when someone who is exhausted, frightened, or lost stands quietly next to a horse - and it never stops being remarkable.

Together, they bring something that is rare: professional rigour and genuine human understanding, in the same room.

Join us this season

We are relaunching for the winter season 2026 - 2027, opening in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
If you or someone you love would like to take part, or simply find out more, we would love to hear from you.

Support the program

These sessions are offered at no cost to participants.
They exist because organisations and individuals believe in what we do and choose to make them possible.

We are currently looking for sponsors and CSR partners for the 2026 - 2027 season.
Your support directly funds sessions for cancer patients, carers, and children in Dubai.
In return, sponsors receive full recognition, presence at our October launch event, and regular impact reporting throughout the season.

If you would like to discuss a sponsorship or CSR partnership, please get in touch.