
What is Equine Assisted Learning ?
Equine Assisted Learning is a powerful and effective approach to experiential learning that includes horses in uniquely designed activities to bring awareness to the individuals involved.
By including horses in the activities, a facilitator can observe non-verbal communication between the horse and the participant. The facilitator guides the session through open-ended questions about the participant's thoughts about what is occurring between the horse and themselves. Once the activity is complete, the facilitator and participant debrief the session and discuss insights and the next action steps to achieve the program-determined goals.
What sets this type of personal development apart from other methods is the immediate feedback from the horse and the facilitator during the activities. Research has shown that horses respond to the participant's energy and will change their behavior as the humans change their own. The results are an immediate understanding and retention of new skills and ideas.
As prey animals, horses are highly attuned to their immediate environment. The primary need of a horse is safety. Horses can sense a person's feelings immediately. Depending upon the person's intention and behavior, they will respond by moving towards or away from the participant. Horses are herd animals who thrive in social behavior and often engage with the participants to build relationships.
Skills learned from interacting with horse are many. Here a just a few.
Communication
Self esteem
Boundaries
Relaxation
Connection
Focus and Intentions
Self Control
Empowerment
Trust
There are many different programs offering Equine Assisted Learning Experiences. Search for the one that will fit your goals. At Liberty Connections Farm is offering personal development and wellness for someone who is exploring what the next steps are in their lives. I offer a variety of programs to meet this need. Contact us for more information.