The document summarizes Equine Learning Experiences Australia's programs from April 2013. It discusses a life skills program for students from Phoenix College involving learning about respect, authenticity, and emotional intelligence. The students shared what they had learned about controlling emotions, problem solving, and connecting with horses. It also summarizes a young adult empowerment program and the feedback from participants about learning how attitudes and emotions affect others.

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Equine Learning Experiences Australia
Newsletter # 5 April 2013
3
Quisque:
Porttitor
2
The ELEA herd have been supporting students from
Phoenix College in gaining awareness around Respect,
Authenticity and Emotional Intelligence.
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2. Phoenix College / ELEA Life Skills Program
We have rolled into 2013 with an amazing group of students from Phoenix College
attending weekly equine assisted learning programs .
Six young ladies from the Ballarat school have been making the trip to the Unicorn
Park Equestrian Centre (thanks to their dedicated teacher Anna Coloe) and have
opened themselves up to the experience of learning about themselves and increasing
their self awareness through the wisdom of the horse.
We are 5 weeks into a ten week program with the students and have so far explored
with the ELEA herd awareness around emotions, authenticity, mindfulness, problem
solving and healthy boundaries to name a few. All the students have been very engaged
in the process and it has been lovely seeing their smiling faces arrive each week eager
to start each session.
I have asked the students to articulate their learning to date so here is a snippet from
each participant and their journey’s to date through the ELEA schools program…
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3. During the ELEA equine learning program I
have learnt to control my anger, by not
letting me mind take over my emotions. I
have also learnt our bodies send out energy
or signals and the other person or animal
senses your emotions or feelings from your
energy. I also learnt new words such as
congruence: meaning that what your feeling
on the outside affects what your feeling on
the inside.
Grounding: meaning that your able to
connect and feel the movements of
everything around you.
Problem Solving: meaning that you try
something differently if the way your trying
isn’t working.
Being Fully present: meaning that your more
focused on your bodies feelings not what
your mind is feeling.
Connection: meaning that your able to
connect with the horses by focusing on your
surroundings not your mind. I also got to
work with Emily and the horses Sally,
Maddie, January Jones, Razzle Dazzle and
Ruby. Being close to the horses is like
having another friend or family member
because you get so attached and loving
towards them. I also learnt about authentic
and false self voices. False Self meaning that
someone or yourself is believing something
that isn’t right or true and authentic self
meaning that you know and believe whats
true and how you or your body really is.
Krystal – April 2013
Since I started the ELEA schools
program it’s changed my
personality and has put me in a
better life style. Grounding myself
has taken a big part in my new
personality.
Tiaa : )
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4. Since the ELEA schools program has started I have
become a better person. I am a lot more respectful and
know now how to keep calm.I have learnt to ground
myself when needed.
Throughout this program I have not just learnt about
horses but mostly about myself.
Thanks Em xx
Shara
During
the
first
5
weeks
of
the
ELEA
schools
program
I
learnt
about
using
my
body
to
think
about
things
not
just
my
head.
I
now
think
about
things
and
situations
more
and
not
just
act
straight
away.
I
think
the
grounding
helps
me
to
relax
and
calm
down
a
lot.
I
use
that
a
fair
bit.
I
honour
my
emotions
and
others
also.
This
course
has
helped
my
anger.
I
do
not
hide
from
my
emotions
and
snap.
I
honour
them
-­‐
Natasha
Wilson
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5. During
the
ELEA
schools
program
I
have
learnt
how
to
ground
myself
and
communicate
better.
I
have
been
controlling
my
anger
more
in
classes
and
at
home.
With
my
life
wheel
I
have
started
focussing
on
what
I
want
to
do
when
I
am
older
and
when
I
leave
school.
I
now
start
to
look
at
other
people’s
point
of
view
and
not
just
my
own.
Teegan
–
April
2013
During
the
program
I
have
learnt
a
lot
of
things.
I
have
learnt
to
ground
myself
and
use
my
body
not
my
head.
I
have
learnt
to
do
things
differently
not
just
do
things
the
same
way
as
everyone
else.
I
think
about
other
people’s
feelings
and
not
just
my
own.
I
communicate
better
with
others.
With
my
life
wheel
I
have
been
thinking
about
what
I
can
do.
I
am
trying
to
do
some
work
experience
at
CURVES.
I
love
doing
this
program.
I
love
being
with
the
horses,
I
have
learnt
so
much
about
myself,
but
the
best
thing
I
have
been
learning
while
having
fun.
Pippie
(Shayden
Lever)
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6. Young Adult Empowerment Program – February 2013
It was great to kick off the year with another group of fresh faced Young Adults from the
‘Young Adult Empowerment Program’. This was the fourth YAE program that the
Committee for Ballarat has run and is funded by the Department of Education and
Workplace Relations. To date the YAE program has had 57 young adults from the
Ballarat region participate, and the results and achievements of the YAE program has
made a positive difference to many young adults in our community which in turn has
seen them step forward with more confidence, direction and a sense of self.
When the YAE participants were asked what learning they were able to draw upon from their ELEA
equine assisted learning experience some of the feedback included…..“It was interesting to learn how
influential our attitudes and emotions are to our surrounding environment” – Keegan
‘That the energy you give out effects others even if your outwardly showing it. I have learnt to have a wider view
when upset and realize there is more than one option” – Emma
‘Oh so life changing, I now know that I can change things from being more aware of my mood- Jen
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7. Michelle Dennis – Liberty
Trainer
Over the Easter holidays
ELEA hosted an amazing
horse woman and liberty
trainer from Queensland,
Michelle Dennis. During her
visit we held 2 weekend
clinics , a showcase
performance and private
tuition. Michelle also spent
many hours working with the
ELEA herd of horses and
teaching me a new level of
relationship with my herd
and our how we connect and
interact with each other.
Michelle will be visiting
again later on in the year so if
your interested in being
trained by Michelle bookings
can be made through ELEA.
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8. The year to date has been full of some wonderful experiences with the
ELEA team. The wisdom and authenticity of the ELEA herd
continues to support people in changing people’s lives in a positive
way. It is a humbling experience to be part of the journey.
For all enquiries about ELEA programs either for Youth / Schools,
Women , Disability sector, Employment Readiness Leadership or
Team Building please contact Emily McVeigh by phone on # 0415
991 115 or email on emily@elea.com.au or go to the ELEA website
for more information www.elea.com.au
Sponsors and
Supporters:
Ø Greg and the Team at the
Haymarket
Ø Andy Stock at Mr Ed
Equine Products
Ø Phoenix College -
Sebastopol
Ø Committee for Ballarat –
Young Adult
Empowerment Program
Ø Tracy Landt – Unicorn
Park Equestrian Centre
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