Equine Assisted Self-Development
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
Maya Angelou
Teen drug abuse, teen gang culture, alcoholism, pregnancy, violence and crime are not conditions only reside in the inner cities. Studies show that in today’s world of single parents and dysfunctional family units these social issues show “no boundaries” and are putting nearly ALL TEENAGERS at RISK!
The phrase “At-Risk Youth” refers to an adolescent who struggles with moderate to severe emotional and behavioral disturbances, which can ultimately lead them into areas which threaten their future.
SELF-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Teens are Resilient – Especially if They Have a Support System on their Side.
Equine Assisted learning is proving to be a potent treatment modality suited for at risk or disadvantaged youth. Studies have shown that spending time with horses can reduce levels of stress and hyper-arousal and more.
Riders learn to control their emotional state of mind, their state of being and basic life and social skills through planned interaction and experiences with the horses. They learn not only riding and ground work skills, but also they can experience dramatic improvements in their lives by working with horses.
Designed to Give At-Risk Teenagers a Safe Haven
Our Equine Assisted Self-Development (EASD) program utilizes horses as a tool to enhance self, behavioral, relational, and emotional growth for all ages.
Our program is a powerful new approach to learning personal self-growth and emotional control. It primarily focuses on self-acknowledgment, mastering and harnessing the participant’s potential, and then applying that potential to achieve their goals.
The focus is not on riding or horsemanship although they will learn those skills. During the interaction with horses and coach, the participant will build a relationship with self that nurtures a sense of accountability, responsibility, priority, confidence and much more. The participant will:
- Improve their day-to-day decision making
- Increase their personal insight
- Learn to manage life’s dilemmas and transitions
- Create healthy behavioral boundaries and expand their
capacity for good relationships
The objective of this program is to aid our students with developing healthy relationship skills and coping strategies to help them chart their future.
COURAGE
We want our participants to have the courage to stand up for their ideas and challenge the status quo. We also want them to have the courage to do the right thing in the face of resistance or moral dilemmas.
BENEFITS
Equine Assisted learning is proving to be a potent treatment modality suited for at risk or disadvantaged youth and adults.
Studies have shown that spending time (engaging) with horses can reduce levels of stress, hyper-arousal and more.
Riders learn to control their emotional state of mind and basic social life skills through personal interaction and experiences with horses. They learn not only riding and ground work skills, but also they can experience dramatic improvements in their lives by working with horses. Teens benefit from using a horse as a bridge to connect to their “true” self and gain skills that will:
- Enhance problem solving and social skills
- Learn empathy and stimulate creativity
- Accept accountability for behaviors
- Gain a sense of personal control
- Learn stress, anger and frustration management
- Decrease feelings of hopelessness and depression
- Learn better communication skills
- Build a strong and positive perception of self
- Learn cause and effect – taking responsibility
- Find direction, focus and meaning for life/future
- Establish and build positive relationship foundations
- Gain practice in working though their own emotions to become aware of how body language, energy and behaviors affect their daily lives
- Make choices based on common sense, problem solving and awareness.
- Build trust in self, trust in relationships and learn team building strategies
- Develop skills to work through uncomfortable and emotionally charged situation
- Develop conflict resolution skills that will improve communication
- Face fears to resolve deep-seated emotional and psychological issues
- Understand that respect is a positive feeling of esteem
- Experience breakthroughs that promote teamwork and healthy relationships
Program Curriculum
Our curriculum promotes positive youth development through experiential learning. We believe that youth retain more information with hands on activities and have more fun when they are part of this learning process. Our entire curriculum contains this element of experiential learning. Each course matches a phase along with written activity, note taking, testing and repetition.
The course outline is as follows: All curriculums are $95 dollars per person, per session.
Each group attends once a week for 6 weeks per course.
Mirrors who you are
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Bonding
Understanding self
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Beginner
Acceptance of Self
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Beginner
Emotional Control
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Beginner
Finding Your Center (Balance)
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Intermediate 1
Taking Responsibility (Problem Solving, Time Management)
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Intermediate 2
Calmness (Building Self)
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Intermediate 3
Determination (Finding Purpose)
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Intermediate 4
Confidence (Energy, Non-verbal Communication)
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Advanced 1
Willpower (Verbal Communication)
Duration – 6 Weeks
Horsemanship Phase – Advanced 2