Why it works?
Youth development programs are essential to the growth of a community. Using equine assisted activities to introduce young people to the values that are expected from them in society is one of the best ways of participating in the building of a stronger world.
Don't Quit Horsing Around!
The value of using horses as a teaching tool and learning skill have been proven time and time again in the teaching of young people and especially teenagers. The use of an equine assisted learning program is a unique way to teach young people who are fortunate to participate in the Equine Connection youth development programs.
Horses are used as a powerful teaching tool as they respond intuitively to the way they are being handled. Children learn that size is not as important in leadership as heart, and they are taught that if they are trustworthy leaders' people will follow. A sixteen hundred pound Clydesdale mare won't move just because you tug her halter, she will move if she trusts you to guide her to food, water, shelter, and safety.
Horses understand how to differentiate between potentially threatening behavior and a calm and assertive nature. Children and young people who have the chance to work with our youth development programs are able to learn how to modify their behavior through sets of exercises that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. This type of teaching cannot be delivered in a classroom. It is the experience of being in close contact with horses that has the most effect on young people.
It has been proven through research that contact with a friendly animal has an effect well beyond the encounter itself. Animals, and horses in particular, have much to teach us, if we listen and watch the signs that they are giving us.
Through equine assisted youth development programs, teens and children learn to become effective communicators and listeners. They learn a completely new set of problem solving skills that will stand them in good stead as they travel through life, and the value of being able to be trusted and respected is one that they will never forget. Working with horses teaches youth that there is no quick fix or easy street in life, but with hard work and responsibility they are able to face the future as bright, well adjusted young people.
Why Equine Assisted Learning? Here are just a few reasons!
- It is possible to change a community through their youth. They are the future!
- Help the children (youth) helps the community and helps the world.
- It's all about Self Esteem as when we have self esteem we are better people, better adjusted in society, know there is always consequences for every action, team players, better communicators, better listeners, better problem solvers, better negotiators, better at articulating, better at accepting people the way the are.
- The horse gives them what may be a person can not.
- The horse gives them trust and respect through leadership skills.
- It's the youth's own journey. Nobody tells them it is right or wrong as the horse does the teaching and the youth makes the call as to whether it is good or bad.
- The youth do the adjusting to make the change and they see the result. We as facilitators are their to help them in that teachable moment.
- It's not just when we see that change as facilitators, the true moment of change is when they, the youth, feel it and they change it and they get the different result. That is what sticks!
- We do not tell the youth how to feel, the horse does this all on their own.
- When a youth states that this horse is "stubborn" or this horse isn't "listening" or this horse "doesn't like me" or this horse "loves me", in essence they are projecting themselves as to what they feel about themselves.
- The youth learn all the safety and skills to work with these magnificent animals and then they begin their own individual journey's.
- As a facilitator, I have seen with my own eyes the kids come in for their program and all for different reasons but they may be super blah and with drawn, have a really bad attitude, be really hyper, be very excited to work with horses, whatever the case may be and by the time they have worked with their horses out in the arena, they have made a change and when they come back into the class room, it is truly an incredible event to see these transformed kids from just 50 minutes before. They are happy, they are calmer, they have answers, they want to express themselves, they feel safe and bottom line… they got self esteem!
- If you are a teacher, a parent, a counsellor, an adult who wants to see all that the youth have inside of them and build on all these qualities… equine assisted learning is the program for you.
- I believe the best way to help these wonderful youth in our society is through one step at a time and one child with a horse at a time and the rewards for that will be how that child will show you how incredibly wonderful and original they are.
Look at what these schools and community officials are saying about the program for their youths:
- Siksika Medicine Lodge
- Strathmore Mayor Steve Grajczyk
- Wheatland Elementary School
- Article in the Strathmore Times
- Article in the Newsy Neighbor
View our Youth Information Package
Behavior is the result of a dialogue between your brain and your experience.
