Using Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), people experiencing life transitions or mental health challenges are offered a method that positions the horse as a guide, the client as the learner, and the EAL coach as a facilitator. Insights and growth occur hands-on in nature’s environment. One goal of Joy Equestrian is to reduce the obstacles and fears of encountering horses and allow clients to benefit from their wisdom. Horses are partnered with clients in a supervised, therapeutic environment, and clients can work through personal or team challenges, in alignment with Equine Assisted Learning Canada guidelines.
The horse has been domesticated and involved with humans in their work for centuries, whether for labor in the fields, for transportation, or for sport and pleasure. As a prey animal, their basic survival instincts remain, and their high sensitivity to body language and emotion makes them astute partners in the therapeutic work of growth and development.
During an introductory “Walk & Talk”, Sheena the client and I walked with Misty the pony about the property, discussing what brought Sheena to our farm. Sheena described a dramatic loss of confidence and self-esteem after the death of her father 27 years ago. Sheena was a successful woman, so the confidence was not congruent with her abilities or life situation, rather seemed distinctly tied to the loss of her father, a man “who adored me, I was his golden child”. Sheena, it seemed, had unresolved grief about her dad.
For our first session, Sheena was paired with a horse named Charlie. After they introduced themselves, I asked Sheena to write, using her hands, five attributes about her father on Charlie’s side. I wanted Sheena to engage with Charlie, and for Charlie to hear and sense what was happening for Sheena. Once Sheena shared her chosen attributes with Charlie, (I was out of earshot), I asked the two of them to walk to a red pylon I had put in the arena. Once there, I asked Sheena about how she was feeling, now that she was immersed in sharing about her dad. I also asked her who was there with her. Sheena shared that she felt sad and that she was alone in her feelings. She felt stuck. I then asked the two to walk to a green pylon I had placed a little further along. Once there, I asked Sheena what it might be like to let go of the feelings, that is, not to let go of her dad, but to let go of the grief. Sheena said it was impossible. At that moment, Charlie turned his head and picked up the green pylon in his mouth, and dropped it. I asked Sheena what Charlie might be trying to say. She said that she thought Charlie thought she could let go. Charlie then turned to Sheena and wrapped his neck around her in a hug.
For our second session, Sheena was paired with a horse named Buddy Peekaboo. Grief locks itself in the body (van der Kolk, 2014), and ‘letting go’ cognitively is solely a mind-exercise. I asked Sheena to mount Buddy Peekaboo and she sat on him bareback, with just a lead rope. I asked Sheena to raise her hands in the air to help take a deep breath and to say a word that represented her father. She could say this word in English or in her mother tongue. During this exercise, though not explicitly asked, the horse kept walking. I asked her to feel the vibration of movement from the horse, to let her hips move with him and her belly jiggle, and to breathe and release a word. When Sheena allowed herself to feel her pain in her body and not just her mind, Buddy Peekaboo immediately stopped walking and stood quietly while she described her father and her loss.
As you can see, the horse knows. This example relates to grief, but horses can support humans through many challenges and transitions. Please reach out if this feels like a fit for you.
Equine-assisted learning is an impactful method of insight for individuals, couples, families, and any dyad or group wanting to learn together.
As each situation is personal, private and unique, Sarah offers a free ‘walk and talk’ at your preferred location, with a horse. This allows all parties to ensure fit (you could be unknowingly allergic, for example), and ascertain goals and the best practices to achieve those goals. During the ‘walk and talk’, as the goals and related methods are clarified, the related fee structure and session timings will become apparent. They will be transparently discussed and agreed upon.
Sarah welcomes introductory phone calls to clarify the process, free of charge.
Joy Equestrian
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