SYNOPSIS.
Liyan: Guided by Horses
In Australia’s outback Kimberley region, horses become unexpected healers. Under the fierce guidance of Indigenous scientist Professor Juli Coffin, a group of young people forge powerful bonds with these creatures - rekindling their spirit, their identity, and their deep connection to Country. Raw, emotional, and utterly breathtaking, this is a journey of ancient wisdom, wild freedom, and the power of trust reborn.
What people are saying:
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"Horses are medicine..."
The Guardian
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"The program is showing promise where mainstream... struggles."
ABC
OUTLINE.
Liyan: Guided by Horses is a cinematic, emotionally rich documentary set in the breathtaking Kimberley region of Western Australia, where wild brumbies roam and ancient knowledge lives on. At its centre is Professor Juli Coffin, an intuitive, horse-loving Aboriginal woman whose turbulent past drives her mission to heal young lives through horses.
Her groundbreaking equine sanctuary, Yawardani Jan-Ga (“Horses Helping”), supports both young people and horses. We follow four unforgettable kids—autistic twins Lagee and Nathaniel, wild-hearted Athena and her rescued cockatoo, and shy newcomer Heather—each seeking belonging and transformation.
Guided by Juli and Yawuru Elder Aunty Di, the film blends breathtaking visuals, intimate storytelling, and the deep bond between human and horse. Liyan reveals that healing comes not through words, but through presence, instinct, and connection—with animals, with Country, and with ourselves.
More than a documentary, it's a mythic story of reconnection—where horses become the bridge to forgotten truths and a new generation dares to dream.