HORSES AS TEACHERS
Through the non-judgmental eyes of a horse, we can create a more positive individual. A once-angry, hurting youth can come to see that they can change their life by changing his behaviour with the help of a faithful friend, a horse. The result of the process is a more stable and productive person in our society.
There are few other disciplines that demand such total, full-body communication, or that demand working with a partner so intimately as correctly handling a horse. This is the unique gift of the horse-human bond and requires empathy and caring for a living thing in an interdependent way, as opposed to inanimate equipment which can be locked away when you're done. There is no other "equipment" that nickers back when it gets to know and trust you.
Lessons in respecting others space, co-operation and giving respect to get respect are horse-handler lessons that are equally important for success with people. It teaches co-operation with another, while standing your own ground.
Our horses have become trusted friends and family to the children on the programme. These gentle giants have known what it means to be without throughout history, horses have struggled to simply survive, they have come from a life of incredible hardship at the hands of man, to become a healing instrument in a child's life.
800KG OF "INSTANT FEEDBACK"
Learning to work safely and effectively requires patience, trust, compassion, awareness and self-confidence.
Every child has a favourite and will often pick a horse with a similar nature as their own.
GRASS ROOTS LEARNING
The stall or paddock provides a natural setting and children do not feel closely watched or focused on. It is an escape from four walls and 'authoritarian' type concepts and it is effective in quickly reaching the heart of a child's issues.
WHAT HORSES DO FOR TROUBLED CHILDREN
Despite the lure of their beauty and power to a young person, a horse is an example of a problem that is too big to handle. Their size can be daunting; their "having a mind of their own" can be intimidating and frustrating. Street savvy does not work on horses and they are not intimidated by what you look like or what colour clothes you wear. Horses look for the authentic person not the one we are pretending to be.
QUICKER RESULTS
From the first moments with their horse, children use the same coping mechanisms as they do with other stressful factors in their lives. Issues usually rise to the surface much more quickly meaning issues can be dealt with sooner.