Equine Assisted Learning

 

 

 

HORSES ARE EXPERT COMMUNICATORS!

 

 

Effective EAL activities are designed to be fun, interactive and individually stimulating and are done from the ground, with no horse experience necessary.  Horses are experts at non-verbal communication, and consistently model appropriate assertiveness without judging. Their feedback is straightforward, providing valuable insight to help overcome fears and negative life patterns while enhancing problem solving skills and communication.  In EAL horses act like mirrors, reflecting attitudes and issues metaphorically to help increase a person’s awareness.  Their honesty makes them especially powerful messengers.

 

 

“THAT HORSE IS STUBBORN!”

 

 

Horses are very much like humans in that they are social animals. They have defined roles within their herds;  and would rather be with their peers. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods, and at times, seem stubborn and defiant. Many people will complain, "The horse is stubborn. The horse doesn’t like me," etc. But the lesson to be learned is that if they change themselves, the horses respond differently.

 

Penny is trained and certified in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) as a horse specialist through EAGALA, an internationally-renowned organization dedicated to improving the mental health of individuals, families, and groups around the world through the use of programs which incorporate horses experientially for emotional growth and learning. She has co-facilitated hundreds of Equine-Assisted learning and psychotherapy sessions, where ground activities utilizing the horses  require the client or group to apply certain skills in non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem-solving, leadership, taking responsibility, teamwork, confidence, relationships, and attitude.

 

 

POWERFUL LEARNING OPORTUNITY

 

 

EAL is a powerful educational tool available to anyone, whether they are involved with a therapist or not, who would like to utilize the many benefits of Equine Learning to enhance their social and relational awareness. Both EAL and EAP have proven to have an incredible impact on individuals, youth, families, and groups; and address a variety of mental health and human development needs including behavioral issues, ADD, substance abuse, eating disorders, abuse issues, depression, anxiety, relationship and communication needs.

 

Both EAP and EAL are experiential in nature. This means that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses, and then discussing feelings, behaviors, and patterns. This experiential approach has been compared to the ropes courses used by therapists, treatment facilities, and human development courses around the world. But EAP/EAL  has the added advantage of utilizing horses-  dynamic and powerful living beings. 

 

“Deke”

 Aka: “the mini-van man”

Heartland

Experiential Learning Programs, Inc. 

(H.E.L.P.)

386-756-3669

HELP our vision become reality for FOSTER KIDS!