EQUINE ASSISTED GROWTH AND LEARNING – How children can learn and grow through interacting with horses.

EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth & Learning) is an internationally recognized from of equine therapy that uses a team approach that includes a credentialed Mental Health Professional/ Coach, a qualified Equine Specialist, and horses, working together with the client.

 In this approach, horses are never ridden. All the work is done on the ground with the horse’s front and center, deliberately unhindered and allowed to interact with the client as they wish. This creates the space for the client, with the support of the professional facilitators, to reflect, project, and make deep connections. It allows for insights and learning.

Horses are prey animals, so in order to survive, they instinctively analyze and react to their environment. Horses sense and respond to a person’s intentions, emotions, thoughts, and body language, and so become instant mirrors and non-judgmental feedback mechanisms for humans. Through the experience of observing a horse’s response to their requests and directions, children learn how to communicate more effectively; face their fears; manage their emotions; and become more consistent and congruent within themselves and their actions.

Horses are also social animals with defined roles within a herd. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. They could be stubborn or they could be playful. In other words, horses are a lot like us. Through observation of herd dynamics and one-on-one interaction with individual horses, children learn new relationship-building skills and become more aware of patterns of thinking and behaving that may be standing in their way.

Horses are powerful animals. It's hard to ignore a horse with their size and presence and we can't easily control them. Interacting with horses helps children reflect and learn how to approach aspects of their lives and relationships, and teaches them how they can face other big or overwhelming things in their lives.

EQUINE ASSISTED SOCIAL SKILLS WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

These holidays give your child the gift of learning social skills while interacting with horses!

 The workshop will take place at Club Street Stables, 119 Club St, Linksfield, Johannesburg, 2192. We can accommodate a maximum of 6 children per session. You can choose from any ONE of the following:

• Wednesday 28 April - 14:30-16:00
• Thursday    29 April - 14:30-16:00
• Friday         30 April - 14:30-16:00

We have a special holiday launch price of R550 per session.

If you are interested or you need more information please visit: https://www.ignitesq.com/social-skills-workshop.html ,

or contact Dina Cramer at (082) 305-5755 or send an email to [email protected]

 THIS WORKSHOP WILL FOCUS ON:

Social Skills- Equine Assisted Therapy supports children in learning appropriate non-verbal and verbal communication, which is very powerful in moving children who are socially isolated or withdrawn to a more open, positive, and appropriate social platform.

Impulse Regulation- Interacting with horses promotes different kinds of emotional awareness and self-control. Children suffering from irritability, agitation, and impulsivity, will learn increased cooperation, emotional regulation, capacity for delay, and behavioral control.

Boundaries- Through exploring relationships with horse’s children learn to express and develop healthy boundaries. They learn that even though horses are physically bigger and more powerful, they typically mirror their emotions and operate within boundaries of mutually caring relationships.

Communication- Horses’ sensitivity to non-verbal communication assists children to develop greater awareness of their emotions and allows them to communicate more effectively.

Self-Esteem- In the sessions, children are challenged to learn and master new skills with no one to judge and compete with them. This builds their confidence.