WHY HORSES?
Horses are a prey animal. Humans are predators. To have prey and predator working together is a rare occurrence in nature. Hence, making this program unique in itself! Horses, being a prey animal, react to even the slightest stimuli which opens the doors for our Certified Equine Assisted Learning Facilitators to step in and assist the participant in what the horse is communicating to them through their body language. This creates pivotal teaching moments. Participants need to adjust their behaviours and acknowledge their actions to be able to work as a team with the horses.
In order to team up with the horse, the participants have to have the horses trust and respect, much like in a horse’s natural herd. Horses cannot lie, they do not judge, and they give honest feedback. Horses require a leader who is confident and trustworthy.
Research shows just being in the presence of a horse reduces the feeling of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety, as well as improve social functioning, trust, patience, self-efficacy and empowerment! Horses instill empathy and kindness into participants. They do not overthink participants motives but the do challenge participants behaviours and leadership.
HOW?
Horses feed off of the participants stimulus within a program, and magnify an individual’s problems, confusions, or frustrations immediately, giving our facilitators a window into their personalities. Horses are honest and give instant feedback.
Our horses each have distinctive personalities, and each have their unique and different methods of teaching. By learning to listen to what our horses have to say, gives us the opportunity to grow as an individual. By including horses in our objectively driven programs, we assist in participant’s rate of success to self-discovery.
WHAT IS EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL)?
To put it simply, Equine Assisted Learning is a learner based educational experience with horses. More specifically, EAL is an effective approach to human development that encourages individual and team growth. Participants engage in objectively driven exercises and find themselves learning valuable life skills in a fun and exciting atmosphere while working with horses. EAL has proven to be effective, powerful, positive, educational, and creative. The Academy of Equine Assisted Learning’s program emphasizes it’s BuildingBlock™ curriculum of facilitating life skills through positively reinforced interaction with horses. Exercises are developed to encourage self confidence through validated, hands-on experiences. Current research has found this experiential form of learning to be most effective.
Lucky Break Ranch and Tack's mission is to uphold and maintain the program standards as set out by Equine Connection (EAL). This mission is accomplished through continued education/training, promoting safety, maintaining professionalism and upholding client confidentiality. We strive to offer a high quality experience in self discovery and safety in a controlled and fun environment.