What is Equine Assisted Learning:

The use of horses to assist and enhance learning.  Engaging with horses in a structured but flexible approach has been found to assist individuals in a variety of ways as detailed below.  Sessions are provided at the property located at Sequoia Lodge, 330 Burma Road Table Top by Andrea Williams a qualified and registered Equestrian Australia Coach.

About Andrea:

Andrea has been an academic for 30+ years and been working, training horses since she was 7.  She has been an accredited coach for 30 years and been engaged as a mentor to young women since 2009.  The Arandth Equine Assisted Learning program has been operating unofficially for 5 years, and officially since late 2018.  

What does each session involve?

Each session will involve the engagement of the participant with horses in a variety of activities common to the management and care of horses.  These sessions are delivered in a manner that allows the participant to set their own goals and progress.  In some instances, the participants will have the opportunity to participate in beginner sessions of riding.  

Description of Equine Assisted Learning(EAL):‍

EAL is an approach to learning that may assist with many behavioural and cognitive challenges including but not exclusively:

·        improve communication and social skills*,

·        improve concentration, staying in the moment and focus*,

·        gaining and improving self-esteem,

·        improved levels of achievement and self-value,

·        encourage self-discipline and self regulation,

·        gaining an awareness of self-value,

·        improve problem solving and lateral thought,

·        participate in team working activities and resolving conflict,

·        reduce and manage stress and anxiety and,

·        develop leadership skills, all of which contribute to

·        life skill development.

 *Case studies:

Improving communication and social skills:

Throughout the EAL sessions we observe horse behaviour and note changes in the horse’s behaviour and body expression.  For example, we may focus on how when the horse is listening to you they point the ear closest to you at you.  This type of observation and experience assists the participant to connect and communicate with the horses and then they are often able to transfer this skill to their communication with people and improve their recognition and understanding of body language.

Improve concentration, staying in the moment and focus:

Often staying focused, finishing a project or multitasking is a challenge.  EAL has the ability to improve all of these skills as each session is very focused on completing simple but very important tasks like filling water buckets.  There is a strong emphasis on finishing  these simple tasks.  Also, while the tasks may appear simple, they often involve multiple cognitive and physical application which in turn improves the participants ability to multitask.   An example of how a simple task can be multileveled would be grooming a horse.  Participants are required to have a focus on the horse and the body language, think about their own positioning in relation to the horse, focus on the task of brushing the horse, work out the best way to hold and use the utensils and also focus on the correct order and process for grooming correctly.

While EAL may not be for everyone, it has in some case been found to be a catalyst for significant positive change. Arandth EAL offer an intro session where the participant plus family or carers come out and meet with Andrea and the horses to see if it is something they would like to engage in on a regular basis.  If you would like to enquire about EAL sessions, please contact Andrea on the number or email below.

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