EAGALA Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Personal Development Programs

EAL is a hands on experiential process that allows natural interaction between humans and horses. There are endless ways to apply this approach to personal, professional, and human development.

People treat horses the way they treat people, and the same communication patterns used to gain cooperation with people are also used with horses. The difference is that the horses always act the way they really feel and people often hide their true feelings. Horses have the innate ability to sense people’s true feelings and react to that energy. It is impossible to hide the human soul from the senses of the horse.

EAL helps individuals better understand themselves and others, through participating in activities with the horses and then discussing feelings behaviours and patterns. The debriefing process seeks to bridge the horse activities from the arena back to “real life”, inviting people to reflect, analyse and apply new insights. It is ideal for those seeking to develop the tools and strategies needed to make better choices. A great way to experience the benefits of our program for those not requiring therapy.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• Participants gain a better understanding of themselves
• Participants gain control over interpersonal skills
• Increased self-esteem and body awareness
• Enhanced self-worth
• Increased emotional and social awareness
• Increased attention / focus
• Recovery from Trauma or loss
• Improved communication and coping skills
• Build Resilience
• Become a team player
• Change in basic orientation from problem-focused to possibility focused
• Improved leadership abilities
• Team building and role definition for families, groups, teams and community
• Healthier relationships
• Clarified or enhanced sense of identity, shared values & culture
• Climate of continual learning & inquiry
• Group energy, hope, motivation and commitment

Personal Wellness and Development

With the use of EAL skills and techniques, our horses help participants improve mental/emotional health and wellness.

• Develop personal confidence, finding solutions, and communication skills
• Create a more efficient, flexible and understanding individual
• Become masters at thinking “out of the box”
• In groups, discover how each participant plays a role

PARTICIPANTS WILL enhance these personal areas:

Personal Awareness and Leadership

• Motivation-Empowerment
• Building trust
• Exploring possibilities
• Co-constructing “better” ways
• Creative thinking
• Decision making
• Assertiveness

Communication Skills

• The communication process
• Listening
• Non-verbal and verbal

Team Building

• Team member roles and responsibilities
• Identify and attain personal goals
• Team member effectiveness
• Working with different personalities

Goal Setting

• Identify and attain personal goals
• In groups, how personal and group goals mesh

Confidence Building

• Overcome fears and embrace challenges
• Foster new ideas
• Accept change

Gaining Personal Insight

• Recognise the personality traits of others
• Recognise your own personality traits

LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

Stronger sense of identity

• Feel safe, secure and supported
• Emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and sense of agency
• Develop knowledgeable and confident identity

Connection with and contribution to their world

• Developing senses of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary for active community participation
• Respond to diversity with respect
• Become aware of fairness
• Become socially responsible and show respect for their environment

Stronger sense of wellbeing

• Become stronger in their social and emotional wellbeing
• Take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing

Increased confidence and involved learner

• Developing disposition for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination, and reflexivity

Effective communicator

• Interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes
• Express ideas and increased meaning making
• Developing understanding of how symbols and pattern systems work
• Use information and communication to investigate their ideas and represent their thinking

SERVICES AVAILABLE

• Individual sessions
• Couples/Family sessions
• Group sessions
• Residential Child and Youth Programs
• School Programs
• Juvenile Justice Programs
• Parenting/Carer Programs: parent/carer skill building/training
• Family Reunification sessions