Why This Works
Horses As Teachers
Horses as teachers serve as a beautiful interrupter of default behavioural patterns. They stretch comfort zones and provide immediate and honest feedback to each team member. The instinctive guidance of a horse allows participants a safer space to grow and develop the attributes they need to overcome adversity and meet new challenges with skill, experience and resiliency. Nowhere else can you connect with a teacher who is incapable of judgement while holding you 100% accountable for your outcomes. Our horse teachers guide the experiences needed to practice new skills and work through the big emotions (fear, frustration, anger...) These real-time learning experiences become an emotional anchor for participants to draw upon any time they need.
Our Horse Teachers REALLY Make a Positive Impact!
Here's Your Chance to Connect...
Why Do We Work With A Prey Animal?
Over 2,000 Years of Experience
Horses are profound teachers due to their herd/prey instincts, complete lack of judgement, and non-verbal communication. Horses depend on a leader for mere survival alone. Their security comes from knowing that the members of their herd are looking out for them. Once domesticated, horses seek leadership from the humans who handle them. If we are not the leader, the horse will be!
Once our participants are taught the basics of understanding how the horse communicates, he or she can become the leader the horse seeks. When the horse feels safe, cooperation is a hundred fold and we can easily get the horse to do what is asked of it. When the horse is met with confusion, aggression or insecurity he will disengage and stop participating with his team. These responses are clear and consistent, creating highly teachable moments where participants can understand the cause and effects of their behaviour. Facilitators are always on hand to parallel the learning back to everyday life situations so that each individual has an experience to draw on that helps them to retain the lesson.
Mason Thomas - Youth Graduate
Equine Assisted Learning is an objective based educational experience with horses. Participants work in a group setting with a horse as one of their teammates to complete basic exercises. Throughout the exercises, the horse will respond to participants' behaviour which clearly defines their strengths and limitations. In order to have the horse cooperate, participants will learn to recognize and modify any ineffective behaviours to achieve success with the horse and, ultimately, with everything that they do. There is no riding involved, instead participants work alongside the horse to learn valuable life skills through fun and challenging learning experiences.
The benefits of learning with horses are endless and the results are profound. Current research shows that this experiential form of learning results in higher academic grades, improved social skills and positive mental health benefits. This specific program has proven to be effective, powerful, positive, educational and creative, in several University studies. Exercises are developed to encourage self confidence through validated hands-on experiences.
Getting Their HEAD in the Game
Participants are learning rock solid skills with our horses! But if their head isn't in the game, their training will suffer. So what do we do about that? We plant the seeds of a Growth Mindset in every person we serve. They don't want lectures or paperwork and we don't either! So we make it simple and fun to integrate a Growth Mindset with tools that really make a difference!
Gratitude, mindfulness, self care... these are all lessons that equip participants for their best futures!
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is how we offset stress. It's all about tuning into the present moment without judgement as a way to stay grounded instead of getting lost in thoughts or worries. Taking a brain break, or just giving yourself some time to reset and de-stress is what mindfulness is all about. It is introduced and encouraged as a daily and 'as needed' practice.
Gratitude
Gratitude is the key to happiness. Our minds cannot be grateful and fearful/angry/confused at the same time, therefore practicing gratitude provides participants with a tool to reset their thinking in the heat of the moment as well as in daily practice.
Self Care
Self care is a focus throughout every program. Participants gain self awareness and understanding of what they truly need to be happy. They learn to ask for help, to say 'no' and to recognize their own emotional triggers. Our emphasis on self care takes participants out of 'reaction mode' into taking charge of their lives and outcomes.
