Colleen ‘Coco’ O’Connell has wanted to work with animals all her life.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s why I went to [Occupational Therapy] school, so that I could eventually do this, and it’s time,” she said.
O’Connell bought her house in Hancock 12 years ago, and her farm has continued to grow ever since. With 14 years of experience as an occupational therapist, she feels ready to incorporate her animals into the therapy she provides with her new practice: Rooted and Regulated.
She said she feels young adults and adults are stuck in an “epidemic of disconnection” and building relationships with animals can help reconnect people with themselves.
“It is being aware and paying attention to where we’re giving our attention, and how that changes when you engage with an animal,” O’Connell explained.
The farm
O’Connell’s obsession with animals started at a young age, growing up in Lyndeborough.
“I was always a horse person. I believe everyone benefits from animals. I believe there are some people that it’s just in your blood,” she said.
At age 5, O’Connell started riding horses, and by the time she was 11 years old, she had convinced her parents that buying a horse was economically smarter than paying for lessons.
After graduating early from Wilton-Lyndeborough High School, she set off to study occupational therapy at the University of New Hampshire. That’s when she discovered the use of animals in the therapeutic practice.
Eventually, she moved back to southern New Hampshire at 24, and started growing her farm, Happiness Happens Homestead.
Currently, O’Connell has two horses, including a Clydesdale, two Guernsey cows, two pet goats, two barn cats and her dogs.
Lou and Monet, Coco O’Connell’s two horses waiting for snacks. Credit: KIERA MCLAUGHLIN / Ledger-Transcript 
Newton, Coco O’Connell’s new baby goat, climbing a structure. Credit: KIERA MCLAUGHLIN / Ledger-Transcript 
Toad and Newt exploring the greens on the farm. Credit: KIERA MCLAUGHLIN / Ledger-Transcript 
Coco O’Connell with her guernsey cows, Juniper and Petunia, nicknamed Tuna. Credit: KIERA MCLAUGHLIN / Ledger-Transcript 
Mom, Juniper, and her baby, Tuna, laying in their field on Happiness Happens Homestead. Credit: KIERA MCLAUGHLIN / Ledger-Transcript
She has had her Clydesdale horse, King Louis, more affectionately known as Lou, for almost 10 years. While working on the farm, she’s noticed how much the animals help regulate her emotions.
“I’ve always known what a benefit it is, but it feels like it’s finally time to share the benefits with everybody,” she said.
Regarding town permits, O’Connell said she plans to confirm with the town of Hancock that occupational therapy services can be offered on her farm, but she does not anticipate any issues because she was not required to register her previous occupational therapy practice with the town.
‘They feel how we feel’
O’Connell explained that occupational therapy is a holistic approach to regulate the body, heart and mind in daily life.
While there are places in New Hampshire that offer occupational hippotherapy, which involves riding the horse, she wants to focus on building relationships and trusting the animals to regulate emotions.
She explained horses have much larger electromagnetic fields than humans, which allows them to be in tune with how someone is feeling and help address those emotions.
“They pick up on our electromagnetic fields, and if we’re willing, we can regulate to theirs,” she said.
On her farm, O’Connell hopes to provide a welcoming environment in nature for people struggling with mental health, life transitions and trauma. Down the road, she wants to help people struggling with urinary incontinence as well.
A session on Happiness Happens Homestead starts with an evaluation and a meet-and-greet with the animals. O’Connell said she can read a lot about a person based on how the animals are acting.
After that, the following sessions will involve sitting with, petting the animals, and letting them react to how the client is feeling, which O’Connell said creates a lot of emotion for people. She will be present for all sessions, and said she won’t act like a psychologist; instead, she will be present to help talk when needed and with physical reactions to the animals, like sudden feelings of calmness when the heart rate drops.
“It’s a really good opportunity to peel deeper and see how we’re showing up in real life because we can’t hide all of our faces from them. They feel how we feel,” she said.
All sessions will be grounded and not involve riding the horses.
“I want to share what brings me joy, and I want to remind people that they’re the magic. It’s not how you show up, it’s how you feel that matters,” she said.
To contact O’Connell about her practice, email happinesshappenshomestead@gmail.com.
