Switch off from technology & play with horses
Wellness through Horsemanship for kids
What’s included:
weekly sessions
EVERYONE starts here - with our intro to horsemanship course. Bond each week with the same horse that chose to play with you during your assessment. Through learning to build a relationship with a pony children learn strategies that empower them to take control of their physical, mental and emotional state. This in turn helps them to build stronger relationships, re-engage with learning and see a future for themselves. A horse whisperer does not perform tricks - they use the oldest language in the world in order to read the horse and communicate with the horse, combined with equine psychology, to achieve partnership.
monthly show days
As we are a sanctuary for many of our clients, we do not invite family members to come and meet your horse during your weekly one on one sessions. However we will do online virtual show days and you can then show your family members ‘your horse’ and what you are achieving.
skill building
Connecting on the ground with a horse has limitless possibilities. We start with traditional horsemanship games and then to advanced liberty play. Horses are born with, or develop early in their lives, a natural ability to read the focus and body language of another horse, and that of other animals, developing an understanding of their physical intent. Just like you, your horse can experience a range of emotions including happiness, anxiety, fear and anger. Our horses reflect their handler thus enabling a learning environment to be more self aware and adaptable.
FAQ’s
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a safe and fun approach that can empower any child to:
learn to communicate with horses
improve mental and emotional well-being
Learning to empathetically and effectively communicate with a horse on the ground
Understanding horse care from the pony's perspective, understanding what a pony needs and how to keep them well.
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Children learn all aspects of horsemanship and horse care including:
Learning to empathetically and effectively communicate with a horse on the ground
Become efficient at horse handling safety
Developing the co-ordination, confidence and balance needed to be an effective and empathetic handler
Understanding horse care from the pony's perspective, understanding what a pony needs and how to keep them well
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Our natural horsemanship approach with great therapeutic and educational benefit for all children. Our mission is to support young people by offering experiences that facilitate positive youth development as well as helping them to achieve horsemanship goals. We pledge to provide a safe learning environment so that a young person can thrive physically, mentally and emotionally at the same time as excelling practical horsemanship skills.
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Young people learn the value and need for clear rules and boundaries as well as the need for consistency, clarity, predictability and congruency.
Through understanding these factors, the young person develops confidence, empathy and important life practices which include:
Respect for self.
Respect for others.
Responsibility for everything they do.
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A horse whisperer does not perform tricks - they use the oldest language in the world in order to read the horse and communicate with the horse, combined with equine psychology, to achieve partnership. No shouting, no fear, no pain. A calm and positive mutual understanding that provides a sound basis for true partnership between man and horse. Teaching these skills supports healthy development on leadership without entitlement, assertiveness without cruelty &establishing boundaries with clear communication.
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empower any child to:
learn to communicate with horses
improve mental and emotional well-being
Learning to empathetically and effectively communicate with a horse on the ground
Understanding horse care from the pony's perspective, understanding what a pony needs and how to keep them well.
-
Through learning to build a relationship with a pony children learn strategies that empower them to take control of their physical, mental and emotional state. This in turn helps them to build stronger relationships, re-engage with learning and see a future for themselves.
Children learn all aspects of horsemanship and horse care including:
Learning to empathetically and effectively communicate with a horse on the ground
Become efficient at horse handling safety
Developing the co-ordination, confidence and balance needed to be an effective and empathetic handler
Understanding horse care from the pony's perspective, understanding what a pony needs and how to keep them well
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Non judgmental and unbiased. Our herd only react to a client’s behaviour and emotions with no threat of bias or any judgment of their emotional experience.
Feedback and mirroring. Horses are keen observers and are vigilant and sensitive to movement and emotion. They mirror a client’s behaviour or emotions, conveying understanding and connection that allows the client to feel safe. This also allows for clients to maintain a sense of self-awareness, using the horse’s behaviour and interactions for feedback and opportunities to check in and process what is happening in the moment.
Managing vulnerability. As processing can be painful, aligning these with the horse’s experience in the moment allows for things to be easier to approach and process through.
Staying present. Many people who struggle with anxiety find themselves stuck in worry about their past and fear about their future. Our herd create the opportunity for clients to stay present and focused on the task at hand. Since our horses are vigilant and sensitive to behaviour and emotions, they can sense danger and respond with a heightened awareness, which typically leads to a change in their behaviour. We teach clients to read these and respond to this.
Bonding. Following trauma it is often thought by clients that they won’t be able to bond with someone again and feel that personal connection. But with their horse, they feel that connection. They are then able to take that into the rest of their lives and into their relationships.
Focus. Presence, attention, mindfulness, boundaries, social cues and much more.
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Engage in activities such as grooming, feeding, playing natural horsemanship games, caring for the horse whilst being supported by our expert team. Goals of this form of alternative therapy include helping people develop skills such as emotional regulation, self-confidence and responsibility. What could I, or my child, gain from time spent working with a horse?
🦄 build self confidence
🦄 strengthen self-esteem
🦄 establish and strengthen trust relationship
🦄 communicate clearly
🦄 manage boundaries
🦄 self-regulate
🦄 impulse control
🦄 resilience
🦄 assertiveness
🦄 and so much more - keep us informed as things crop up and we will tailor sessions to support you.
Since the horses have similar behaviours as humans, such as social and responsive behaviours, it is easy for the client to create a connection with the horse.
Values & Boundaries
Young people learn the values and needs for clear rules and boundaries as well as the need for consistency, clarity, flexibility and congruency.
Ridden
What’s included:
weekly sessions
Bond each week with the same horse that chose to support you in your intro to riding course after you have successfully completed your intro to horsemanship course. A horse whisperer does not perform tricks - they use the oldest language in the world in order to read the horse and communicate with the horse, combined with equine psychology, to achieve partnership. Each week we will work towards your goals with ‘your horse’, we will catch the horse in the paddocks, lead with energy, groom, tack up, do our groundwork/liberty, ride, feed, do the after care for the horse and the tack. We will support you to become a responsible highly skilled horse person.
skill building
Riding bitless or tackless through breathwork and using biomechanics supports us as a rider to build empathy, problem solving skills and adaptability. Giving up the traditional methods of micromanaging a horse is hard. Learning to trust and work with a horse is hard. BUT it is so rewarding and great horse people achieve more because of their relationships with their horses. You have to learn to influence the horses speed using your seat, your hands and legs are aids not forceful tools, our horses stop on our exhale no matter their gait, a shift in weight supports them to do lateral work and so much more.
group sessions
Once you have completed the intro to horsemanship and then the intro to ridden, then we can match you with a group with similar skillsets.
monthly show days
As we are a sanctuary for many of our clients, we do not invite family members to come and meet your horse during your weekly one on one sessions. However we invite you to show your online submission to our show days to your family members so that you can show off ‘your horse’.
support teams
Please note that we do not invite parents or family to watch sessions as we support just the person participating in the session.
Driving
What’s included:
weekly sessions
Bond each week with the same miniature horse that chose to support you in your intro to driving course after you have successfully completed your intro to horsemanship course. The parallels between riding and driving are numerous. However you don’t have a weight limit as a mini can pull three times their weight where as they can only carry 20% of their body weight including their tack. You still need to work on biomechanics to drive successfully - it is quite the skill You still need to bend your elbows, wiggling around is not helpful as it affects the weight distrubution in the cart, leaning is a no-no and encouraging the horse to move forward and straight is important. As is clear communication. Each week we will work towards your goals with ‘your horse’, we will catch the horse in the paddocks, lead with energy, groom, tack up, do our groundwork, long rein and when ready drive, feed, do the after care for the horse and the tack. We will support you to become a responsible highly skilled horse person.
skill building
This is an extremely skilled sport and is very achievable for all. From supporting the horse to exhibit responsiveness, suppleness and obedience as well as speed, endurance and maneuvrability. It celebrates the tradition of horse-drawn vehicles while incorporating athleticism, skill and teamwork. It requires deep understanding of equine behaviour, exceptional driving finess and a dedication to teamwork between the driver and the horse.
group sessions
We will be running intro to this sport group sessions next term. Email us if you would like to be a part of this and meet like minded people whilst having fun with your equine partner.
monthly show days
As we are a sanctuary for many of our clients, we do not invite family members to come and meet your horse during your weekly one on one sessions. You will be able to participate in our virtual show days and then show your progress with ‘your horse’ to your friends and family.
support teams
Please note that we do not invite parents, support workers or family to watch sessions as we support just the person participating in the session.
Respect
We honour the horse at all times. We respect their no, answer their questions and cherish their yes. As we do yours.
