Working with horses in the service of human development

1. Free Rein Australia Partnering with horses in the service of human development Free Rein Australia Free Rein Australia Equine Facilitated Learning www.freereinaustralia.com

2. For Leadership Development For Team Development We work with horses as co-facilitators For Personal Development For Individual Coaching

3. What Equine Facilitated Learning is NOT! NOT about teaching horsemanship techniques NOT about riding

4. How does it work?

5. Participants are invited to do an activity with the horses Parameters are set …such as no touching horses and no verbal communication

6. Participants are encouraged to get creative and utilise other ‘resources’ for accomplishing the task

8. draw meaning

10. They retain their wild instincts Despite breeding for colour, speed, size, conformation… horses have the same instincts and behaviours as their wild ancestors

11. They are herd animals They live ‘in community’ where everyone matters. They each have a role that contributes to the safety and well-being of the herd.

12. What this means… When a ‘human herd’ interacts with them, they expect the same level of coherence and harmony, and want to be part of our ‘herd’

13. They dislike violence and seek peaceful solutions Violence distracts them from being alert to the environment and could render them injured and easy prey.

14. What this means… They will let us know that they don’t like any form of aggression, dominance, force, lack of respect…

15. They seek leadership Their safety is dependent on having a competent, trust-worthy leader.

16. What this means… They need to know who we are – does our outer expression match our inner thoughts; are we clear and consistent; are we present and aware?

17. They have enhanced sensitivity to inconspicuous body language In the late 1800’s a horse named Clever Hans captivated the world because he could answer mathematical questions correctly – he was reading his owner’s unintentional body language

18. What this means… They see us for who we are …

19. They are curious The way they learn about us and their environment is through curiosity.

20. They mirror Like us, horses have mirror neurons that cause them to reflect our behaviours.

21. What this means… We have the opportunity to see ourbehaviours reflected back at us

22. They don’t judge They give us immediate, honest feedback without filters

23. What this means… We can practice new behaviours without consequences

24. Our experience with the horses stays with us long after we’ve left them

25. What can we learn from horses?

26. As leaders we learn To influence others, adapt to change, meet challenge with confidence and dignity

27. As members of a team we learn To work in harmony, embrace diversity, build trust and increase creativity

28. As individuals we learn To live with purposeand clarity

29. Free Rein Australia Partnering with horses in the service of human development Free Rein Australia Free Rein Australia Equine Facilitated Learning www.freereinaustralia.com