Personal Growth, Development and Well-being 

In the Company of Horses






Horses are powerful, beautiful, sensitive animals, that can evoke strong feelings and responses in humans. They are very social, play and prey herd animals. Within the herd they live in constant contact, connection and relationship. Horses contact is authentic in that what they feel, they express. Horses do not lie, have opinions or discriminate, When a person interacts with horses they are given the opportunity for feedback from the horse without being judged. Through this feedback people can begin to develop self awareness, enhancing their choice and
responses in different life situations.
Being In The Company of Horses can assist in personal growth, development and well-being 

Mobirise

What is EAL? 

Equine Assisted Learning provides a safe and unique experience in the company of horses. Interacting with these alluring, strong, sensitive animals can help build confidence, develop self-esteem, trust and communication and relationship skills.
This helps create a feeling of social and emotional well being, enhancing personal growth and development.

EAL is not a therapy but can greatly aid people with Anxiety, Depression, Autism, ADHD, Intellectual Learning difficulties, PTSD.

It is a great way for young people to learn new coping skills who deal with trust, relationship and confidence issues in their everyday lives.

ALL WHILST HAVING SOME FUN WITH HORSES :}  

                                                                          What do horses have to offer?


Horses can model and teach us:

Being Present - horses live in the here and now. They do not reflect on the past or ponder on the future....

'The past are memories, the future is imagination, but the time on the clock will always say NOW'

Self awareness - Horses are very aware of what they are feeling in their body, and use these feelings as information, and then express it through their bodies.

Unconditional Positive Regard - a felt sense of being deeply accepted and valued by another without any judgement.

Regulation of breathing - activities with horses such as grooming,touching, playing, or just being in the company of horses can bring abut a sense of calm and soothing. They help to co regualte our breathing, a good tool for people dealing with anxiety.

How we make contact with others - horses can help people reflect on what impact their own contact styles have on their relationships. Working and being in the company of horses (with a horses unique non judgemental response) can help create new ways of connection and contact (with others).

Contact over time creates connection
Connection over time creates relationship
Relationship over time creates closeness

Mobirise

I grew up in the UK and even though I lived in a town I used to spend a lot of time at my Grandads farm.
I absolutley loved all the animals and being in the countryside (I was a bit of a Tomboy!)
I have had a love and passion for animals, especially horses and dogs, ever since I can remember.
Unfortunately I did not have my own horse but there were girls who kept thier horses at my Grandads farm so I went out riding with them sometimes, but I'd mostly sit in a field and watch these amazing animals, just breathing in their scent.
Even as a young child I felt a sense of calm and peace just being around them as well as the other animals on the farm.
In my teenage years I lost contact with horses for a while (at a time when I could really have done with a horsey pal). Skip forward a few years and I had my son, when I hit 40 I decided to do a Degree in Health and Social Care, whilst working at a Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre.

Whilst working at the centre my co-worker and I, who was also working in a local Riding for the Disabled,  decided to take the people from the centre to visit the horses at the RDA. I will never forget the look of sheer joy on their faces (there were a few looks of terror at first for some who had never come face to face with these big, powerful animals, but that didn't last long). Some of the people said that they had got more from that experience than with any counselling or other therapy sessions, and some had years of therapy behind them.

From my own experiences with horses and how they made me feel and the encounter the people had from the rehab with horses I knew that there was definitely something worth exploring further (Equine Assisted Learning was it in it's early days in the UK).





Mobirise

In 2014 I moved to Australia and volunteered at an RDA Centre, where I qualified as a Level 0 coach. At the RDA I met someone who was also interested in Equine Assisted Learning, we both went on a training course with The Australian Equine Facilitated Learning Institute and qualified as EFL practitioners. With a thirst for more knowledge I took more training with The Centre for Equine Experiential Training Australia.

My thirst still not quite quenched and with more searching I came across Meg Kirby founder of The Equine Psychotherapy Institute in Victoria. I loved the principles of the EPI, especially the I-thou horsemanship, which really takes into account the health and well-being of horses in this line of work. I trained with Meg in Perth and qualified as an (EPI) EAL Practitioner.
 

I am very lucky to be able to run my EAL business from my very quiet and peaceful property in Bullsbrook with my 4 herd friends ... Reggie, Jack, Samson and Emma

We would love you to come and hang out with us. 

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Mobirise