|
What is equine experiential programming?
The most
well known experiential learning programs are called ropes or challenge
courses. There are also many types of adventure programs, typically
involving hiking, canoeing, and other outdoor activities. Experiential
simply means "learning from doing." Because of the active or kinesthetic
process, experiential learning has been proven to be more effective than
traditional educational and behavioral change approaches as well as
providing greater retention.
Equine
experiential learning is a process of individuals interacting with horses,
which are living beings each with their own unique personality, life
experiences, behaviors, attitudes and moods. Because of these elements
the equine program cannot be scripted and each time the experience is
different even with the same people and horses. The focus of the
experience is on building a relationship and bond with a horse. The horse
is a powerful, energetic and metaphoric teacher that reflects how each of
us uniquely communicates; approaches challenges, and addresses situations
in our life. It is a introspective process where participants learn about
themselves and how they interact to accomplish goals. It is
insightful process that is fun while empowering change.
Discover something about yourself …
from
a horse.
To learn
more, link to
Winners' Circle and read the section on "How horses teach us about
teams and leadership."
What
should I expect regarding the activities with the horses?
|
 |
This is not horseback riding and horse
experience is not required. The
focus is not riding or horsemanship, in fact
the
experience takes place on the ground utilizing structured
activities with horses. Therefore, no horse experience is
necessary. This is a very different experience from therapeutic riding programs. |
|
|
Experiential,
goal-oriented activities are facilitated safely with horses while
utilizing their unique ability to understand and reflect human behavior. The
focus is on examining
sensory, behavioral, and communication skills.
The process puts the participant in new and unknown situations rather than
talking or reading about it. |
|
|
Activities are selected to target different
areas but all focus on improving problems solving, communication, and
teamwork skills. |
|
|
There's no right or wrong - it is just about
the experience and accomplishing goals in each person's own way.
Feedback is provided without judgment from the horses and facilitators. |
Are the horses specially trained
for this program?
This is a common question and the answer is that horses are not specially trained for this program. The
only requirement is that the horses we use are safe and respectful to humans.
Participants learn 'Equus" - the language of horses and how they naturally
communicate within their herd with other horses. Program participants
utilize this language as their toolkit to interact with the horses to
achieve goals.
Why are horses used rather than
other animals?
Horses are prey animals that have be hunted by predators for
centuries. Their instinct is uniquely developed to detect and understand
the energy that is projected by other creatures, including humans.
Basically, when we work with a horse it understands our body language as well as what we are thinking
and feeling. When we clearly communicate our intentions, the horse will
respond by doing what we ask. If we are unclear or lack intention, trust, or
integrity, then the horse will not do what we ask. It is very simple, to
motivate the horse to do what you are asking it to do, you must clearly
communicate with strong intention.
Why do you use miniature horses?
We owned and bred miniature horses before we began the Equine
Adventure program. We have found that people are much more comfortable
with miniature horses because of their size. As
facilitators, we have worked with both miniature and full size horses. We find
that people get past their fear of the horses much quicker with the miniature
horses. As a result, our program is less fear based compared to other
equine experiential programs. Our clients more quickly connect and bond
with the miniature horses and this allows the focus to shift into other non-fear
based areas where our
clients can learn and grow. The use of miniature horses sets our program
apart from other similar programs. The response from our clients is
resounding - they prefer working with miniature horses because of their size and
temperament!
What other things do you do at
your facility?
At our miniature horse farm, we have
bred and trained horses, including driving in carts. From time
to time we enjoy participating in horse shows. We have some of
the top bloodlines and many of our horses have won top awards at the
national level.
How are miniature horses different
than larger horse breeds?
Fully matured miniature horses are about waist high for adults
(up to 38" in height at their withers) and weigh between 200 and 450 pounds.
Miniature horses are their own breed and are not ponies, although most miniature
horses have distant lineage to Shetland pony bloodlines. Miniature horses
have been bred for temperament and are great companions for people of all ages.
Miniature horses are horses in every regard, including the same instincts and physical
characteristics of full size horses. There are only a few
differences with miniature horses besides their size:
|
|
They don't wear horse shoes but are trimmed
on the same schedule
|
|
|
They lay down and roll more often
|
|
|
Their teeth are not
proportionately smaller compared to the rest of their body
|
|
|
They are measured in
inches rather than in hands (4 inches = 1 hand)
|
|
|
They have much thicker winter coats, like
ponies.
|
Link here to learn more about miniature horses:
bellaterrainc.org/Documents/PdfMiniHorses.pdf.
Link to Bella Terra Documents:
For more information and Bella Terra
brochures, registration forms, and other materials, please link to
esnips.com/web/BellaTerraInc
|
|
Program and Volunteer
Registration Form:
Please complete and bring the following form when you
come to the farm. Our liability insurance requires that
everyone completes this form.
MS Word Format
or PDF Format
What is the best clothing to wear?
Time will be spent outdoors doing
physical activities with horses. Please wear comfortable and casual
clothing that you don't mind getting dirty. Long pants are
preferable all times of the year. Dress appropriately for the
weather and it is best to layer clothing during all seasons.
Participants are required to wear closed toe shoes
with socks to protect their feet when working with the horses (no
exceptions).
How long is each
Equine Adventure session?
Sessions for individuals and families
last 1.5 to 2 hours. Group workshops require at least 3 hours
and can last up to 8 hours.
What group sizes can you
accommodate?
In order to provide the best experience and maximize each
individuals one-on-one time with the horses, we typically limit group sizes to
20 participants and under certain circumstances, smaller groups may be
required. For larger groups, please
Contact Us to learn about possible
options..
When are programs held?
Workshops and sessions are by appointment, held weekday evenings and weekends. Due to the weather, we primarily work
April through October, although we do hold shorter sessions with individuals and
small groups during the colder months.
Where are programs held?
We hold workshops at any location with any horses (full size,
ponies, or minis).
Our miniature horse farm is located in
Texas Township, in Mattawan and Kalamazoo County. For
directions, link to
Contact Us.
Do you provide services for
non-profit organizations?
We partner with many nonprofit organization to
provide the Equine Adventure program for their clients and staff. We
offer discounted rates for all nonprofit organizations. We also
partner to seek grant funding and program sponsorships to fund
programming, however this process requires lead time and advance planning.
Bella Terra was built on a partnership model and we strongly believe in
this approach.
What are your qualifications to
provide equine experiential programming?
In 2003 we
were certified by EAGALA (Equine
Assisted Growth and Learning Association at
eagala.org), a
national organization providing ethics, standards, and certification for equine
therapeutic programming. We have attended many workshops with Wyatt Webb and consider him a mentor. In 2007, Kim Shook was
certified by Innovative Horizons as an Equine Assisted Training Specialist
to provide equine assisted learning for business organizations. Kim
is also a founding member of E3A (Equine Experiential Education
Association at E3Assoc.org). Also, we have been horse owners and
breeders since 2000. Link to About Us to
learn more about our professional experience.
How
can I learn more about equine
experiential programming?
Because this is an interactive process, it is very
difficult for words and pictures to adequately convey the
experience. The best way to learn about equine experiential
programming is to visit a program near you and experience this for
yourself.
Recommended
Websites:
|
|
Wyatt Webb's website for utilizing horses for personal growth and
business environments -
Miraval Resort Equine Experience
See a video of Wyatt Webb's Equine Experience at Miraval on
Oprah:
http://www2.oprah.com/presents/2007/spa/life/life_adventure_212.jhtml
Click on “Coming to terms with the past” and then click on
“Watch as Amy and Jennifer complete the Equine Experience."
Note: The video will start with a short commercial.
|
|
|
Listen to
a NPR segment that aired on 9/8/2008 highlighting a business team from Farm Family Insurance
and their experience at an
Equine Experiential Education workshop (also called, Equine Assisted
Learning - EAL) in upstate New York:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94415776
|
|
|
Sue Thomas (from Mapping Asset Potential and the L.E.A.D.
program - mapotential.com)
has produced the best video we've found so far at capturing the
experience with horses as a team building and leadership development
experience:
mapotential.com/vp/lead-video.htm |
|
|
Paul Hunting's
HorseJoy
and The Centre for Natural Leadership - Paul has two wonderful videos
(short
version and long
version) that
clearly represent how equine experiential programming can be effectively
utilized
for professional and personal growth |
|
|
The Equine Experiential Education Association -
E3Assoc.org |
|
|
Greg Kersten's Association and Training Programs for
both Equine Assisted Learning and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy -
okcorralseries.com |
Recommended Books:
|
|
It's
Not about the Horse: It's about Overcoming Fear and Self-doubt by
Wyatt Webb and Cindy Pearlman
|
|
|
What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do
- Common Horse Sense by Wyatt Webb
|
|
|
Horse
Sense and the Human Heart: What Horses Can Teach Us About Trust,
Bonding, Creativity and Spirituality by Adele Von Rust
McCormick and Marlena Deborah McCormick. |
Test Drive Your Dream Job in
Equine Experiential Education:
Bella Terra is a leader in the field of Equine
Experiential Education (E3). We were the first corporate team
building program exclusively with miniature horses and a founder of
the Equine Experiential Education Association (E3Assoc.org).
We have partnered with the innovative organization
VocationVacations to offer a two day one-on-one mentoring experience to learn
how to leverage your entrepreneur
spirit to build a successful nonprofit organization
and/or equine experiential education program. Click here to
learn more:
|
