Equine Facilitated Learning

The holistic value of working with equines is one of the most stimulating, endorphin producing, physically, emotionally & spiritually therapeutic activities that can be accessed by all ages and abilities. It is an extremely tactile sensory experience and just touching the ponies or donkeys and being close to them combined with wide open spaces reduces the heart rate and stress level of most of the children.

For all children particularly those with Adhd, Aspergers and other social and emotional difficulties, Equine Facilitated Learning provides opportunities in experiential and reflective learning using ponies as facilitators in a therapeutic and stress reducing approach to learning and changing behaviour.

Some children with Asd tend to have a very strict internal rule base and like things to be done in the same way each time and many cannot tolerate change.

Most people are very fickle and will respond to the same cues and stimuli differently each time depending on how they feel who they are with and what is going on around them.

Ponies on the other hand are primarily flight animals and will generally respond to a particular stimulus in the same way each time it is presented.

This fits in well with the internal rule base of asd children and they will quickly learn to get the results they want from the pony.

For children with Adhd, anxiety or anger issues, displaying any sign of anger or heightened emotion will result in the pony disappearing into the distance.

By using well schooled ponies as facilitators each child will quickly learn how to manage their own emotions in order to keep the pony close.

At Gateways we provide a complete programme of activities from level 1 -5 which are designed to have lasting emotional & social benefits for children for example:

• 1: Studying herd dynamics out in the field teaches about social skills and inter personal relationships.
• 2: Grooming and care of the ponies whilst being an extremely tactile experience also encourages empathy towards another living being.
• 3: Working in the round pen with the ponies teaches many important social skills such as body language, observation of boundaries and personal space along with cooperation. Here the child learns to move the pony around using only eye contact and body language.
• 4: The obstacle course teaches the children to stay focused on the task in hand; as long as the child remains focused the pony will follow them anywhere.
  
  Any inconsistencies between body language and verbal language will be instantly reflected back to the child. This can then be interpreted by the adult practitioner and turned into an appropriate learning opportunity for the child.

  

  
  
  Every day tasks such as crossing the road safely, posting letters and buying food at the shop can all be incorporated into the plan and with the help of the ponies will become a new life skill.
  
  
• 5: For those who have worked their way through the first four steps and feel ready to move on, the riding programme incorporates many exercises designed to develop, balance, coordination and facilitate sensory integration and the obstacle course provides a personal challenge for all abilities.
  
  In most cases children will progress through the stages in order; however we treat each child as an individual and the programme can be flexible to fit in around their needs.

Learning Outcomes

• Increased Self esteem, Confidence and Body Awareness
• Encourages sensory stimulation and integration
• Helps develop sequencing and problem solving skills
• Improves social skills, communication and empathy
• Teaches anger/ Stress Management and Conflict Resolution Improves creative decision making
• Encourages personal responsibility, team work and leadership
• Promotes healthy attachment & trust along with appropriate choice making and goal setting