The document discusses the experiences of several participants in Equine Learning Experiences Australia programs. It summarizes some key outcomes and impacts: - Harley found the program helped him process emotions from his mother's death and become a happier person. He learned to accept emotions from spending time with mirroring horses. - Liz realized through working with horses that she had been masking her true emotions. The horses helped her become aware of her internal state and address problems productively. - Bonnie's son Daniel, who has an ABI and autism, learned about senses, boundaries, and emotional regulation from his time in the program. He improved his focus and ability to self-calm. - Cooper,

1. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
1
Equine Learning Experiences Australia
Newsletter # 6 September 2013
Winter in Ballarat is not for the faint hearted. However the
participants who have braved the regions temperatures over
the past few months and stepped into the arena and round
yard with the ELEA herd of horses have truly warmed our
hearts with their courage and strength of spirit.

2. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
Hey, my names Harley Gorman and I'm from Ararat northwest of Ballarat which is
where the Equestrian centre is. I started this program on the 18th of July (The day
before I turned 18). I'm usually an angry depressed person and I tend to hold my
emotions in and bottle them up and take it out on the people closest to me. After
starting this seven week program I have learnt to accept my emotions and the fact that
everyone feels the same way at some point in their lives. I started this program because
like I said earlier I am a depressive angry person. That all came about on the 29/07/07,
10 days after my 12th birthday when I found out that my mother had passed away in a
car accident. This program has taught me how to be who I am and how to basically
use my negative emotions to be a happier person. Spending time with the horses
(which I was initially afraid of) has been beneficial. Spending time with the horses
allows me to learn how I feel inside as they are mirroring animals, the basically display
the same level of the same emotion that a person is. This program has been amazing
and has turned my life around, I'd recommend this program to absolutely anyone
having trouble in their life or just feeling down. I am now a much happier and
cheerful person and I owe it all to Emily and everyone else who has helped me through
these difficult times in my life. Thank-you everyone, I will miss you all. :)
Harley’s Journey

3. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
ELEA Women’s Program
The ELEA Women’s program and the participants that courageously open their minds and
hearts to the process of personal development and healing through horses, never cease to
amaze me with their strength of spirit and character. This year’s winter program was no
exception and warmed our hearts despite the chilly temperatures outside… The following
contribution from Liz highlighted the journey and the joy…….
I was in a unique position before I started the Empowerment Program for women as
I was conducting research into the benefits of Equine Assisted Learning for disabled
and non-disabled adults at the time. Through my research I was aware of the
objectives of EAL and the positive effects that participating in an EAL program can
have on those who participate in a program. As a result, I entered the program as a
participant and as a researcher. However, as the first day unfolded and I was
exposed to the different characters of the horses and the activities which forced me
to evaluate past and present relationships I began to realise the researcher in me
was taking a step back and allowing me, the participant the opportunity to fully
appreciate the phenomena that was taking place. The opportunity to create a space
where I was able explores and reflect upon the relationships between, fear–courage,
dominance–partnership, empowerment–disempowerment and clarity–ambiguity
within the different relationships within my life.’ The overwhelming size and strength
of the horses also demanded my attention and respect and required from me a level
of attentiveness. As a result of the level of awareness I was experiencing, as Emily
created activities where the horses were my co-workers and teachers I was able to
development an understanding of what it really meant to be present in a particular
moment. Something I have tried very hard most of my life to avoid and that was to
deal with the moment
…………cont……

4. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
ELEA Women’s Program - Liz’s journey continued………..
I was able to give myself permission to be present to the emotions I was feeling and to
allow oppressed emotions to surface and flow away and experience each emotion, not to
own it or hold on to it, but just let it pass without judgment of myself. Even to this day, I
give myself permission to explore, but not own any emotion that does not allow me grow
in a positive way.
Each session I attended, I came in a different emotional state which I was unaware of but
soon became apparent to me by the behaviour of the horses. Over the years like most
people I have become an expert at masking my true emotions from others and even to
myself. However, as clever as I believed myself to be when it came to masking or hiding
what emotional state I was truly experiencing at a particular moment, I came undone in
the company of the horse.
When I presented verbal communication
that did not reflect my internal state to the
horse I happened to be working with, or
behaved in a manner that did not reflect
my internal state, the horse instinctively
reacted by becoming restless or moving
away from me.
From the very reaction of the horse it
made me reflect and become aware of
the emotion I was really experiencing. As
a result from this experience I have been
able to address emotions and problems
that arise in my life and instead of
dismissing them, I acknowledge them and
try and find productive and efficient
solutions and then, move on. – Liz
Downie

5. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
Emily,
the
horses
and
the
other
participants
for
sharing
your
knowledge,
wisdom
and
experience.
During
the
program
I
laughed
and
cried
and
felt
safe
and
supported,
but
never
pressured,
to
share
my
stories
and
insights
with
the
other
wonderful
women
who
took
part
also.
It
was
a
beautiful
journey
within
my
greater
journey,
many
amazing
moments
of
clarity,
understanding,
acceptance
and
peace.
Thank
you
so
much
to
Emily,
the
horses
and
the
other
participants
for
sharing
your
knowledge,
wisdom
and
experience.
Teresa’s
journey
–
ELEA
Women’s
Program
–
Earlier
this
year,
I
had
the
privilege
of
taking
part
in
an
ELEA
women's
program.
It
was
a
life
changing
experience,
stunning
in
it's
simplicity,
it
all
comes
down
to
you
and
the
horse
in
a
round
yard.
The
program
came
at
a
time
in
my
journey
when
I
was
ready
to
tackle
the
big
issues.
It
kicked
started
a
wave
of
energy
which
continues
to
gain
momentum
and
propel
me
toward
living
a
fully
authentic
life,
present
in
the
moment
and
coming
from
the
heart
-­‐
all
phrases
I
understand
more
deeply
now.

6. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
Daniel and Bonny’s 9 week ELEA Journey
I
was
very
privileged
to
be
able
to
have
my
son
attending
the
ELEA
program.
He
received
an
ABI
and
also
has
High
Functioning
Autism.
Prior
to
commencement
he
could
not
understand
his
emotions
or
identify
them,
nor
how
he
was
feeling.
He
had
no
idea
on
understanding
body
cues
and
could
not
focus
for
any
period
of
time.
After
completing
the
program
he
was
aware
of
his
senses
and
picking
up
on
body
cues,
boundaries,
and
could
focus
enough
to
calm
himself
when
he
could
feel
the
onset
of
a
meltdown.
He
also
learnt
to
ground
himself,
and
his
work
with
the
horses
assisted
him
in
being
able
to
communicate
with
an
extremely
timid
scared
dog.
I
couldn't
recommend
the
program
enough
to
anyone
who
is
caring
for
someone
with
sensory
issues,
socialisation,
boundary,
and
emotional
issues.
Thank
you
very
much
for
the
dedication
and
effort
you
put
into
Daniels
program
Emily.
Was
such
a
pleasure
for
us
all,
Thanks,
Bonnie.
I
thought
that
my
experience
with
ELEA
was
interesting
I
found
it
enjoyable
it
helped
me
with
my
animals
and
my
life,
like
how
I've
calmed
down
a
lot
at
school.
And
I
think
it's
entertaining
with
the
horses.
And
the
accessories
I
got
are
very
warm-­‐
Thanks
Daniel

7. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
Life Changing steps forward for a 6 year old boy
My son Cooper, 7, was diagnosed with moderate-severe autism at a very young age. Cooper is virtually non-verbal and
occasionally can manage to say a word, but they are few and far between. Cooper also has sensory integration
problems and is constantly seeking movement and feeling things to seek out sensations. Despite of all this, Cooper is
quite a happy little boy who enjoys life.
When I first heard about Equine Learning Experiences Australia and their programs, I did not know exactly what to
expect, but I had previously heard that horses have a special connection with people with disabilities. I did not expect
miracles, but decided to keep an open-mind and thought anything that could possibly make a difference in Cooper’s
life was worth participating in.
Our first session was very brief to see if Cooper was interested. When Cooper met ‘Razzle Dazzle’ he went straight up
to her and gave her the biggest hug. He grabbed Emily’s hand to gesture that he wanted her to help him up. He put
his face into Razzle’s mane to feel her hair with his lips. The smile on his face made me realise that this therapy was
worth pursuing. When I said that it was time to go home, his face dropped and he was clearly sad to be leaving. The
next morning Cooper got dressed for school and said “bus”. I was stunned as he had never said this before and the
bus was due to arrive shortly. Over the course of the next week, Cooper’s teacher had said that he was saying more
words at school. I noticed that he was saying more single words at home and they were all appropriate to what he was
trying to do and not just repeating words that he had heard me say.
The night of our second session, Cooper came up to me after tea and said “bath”. I was stunned because he’d never
said that to me before. After bathing Cooper he said “bed”. I quickly put him to bed, he fell straight to sleep and
slept there all night, as he has done every night since then. This was such a huge step for us because Cooper used to
have to fall to sleep in the bean bag and be carried off to his bed after he’d fallen to sleep. If he was put in bed awake
then he’d be awake until 2.00 in the morning.
Since then Cooper has continued to say more words, more often. He has even said a few 2-3 word sentences, has
sung a song he was listening to on the radio and has been the happiest I have ever seen him. At our last session
Cooper even said “bye Razzle” when it was time to leave.
I am so proud of his progress over the past 4 weeks and would thoroughly recommend this program to any parent
who has a child on the Autism Spectrum. The benefits Cooper has gained from this experience are quite
astounding and I can’t thank Emily enough.

8. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
Equine Learning Experiences Australia has just kicked off a third and fourth 10 week program for
a group of year 10 students at Phoenix College (Sebastopol High School). To date we have
explored and practiced in an experiential model with the horses foundational life skills. After three
weeks we have covered……
Ø social and emotional learning,
Ø mindfulness strategies and techniques
Ø effective communication
Ø leadership qualities
ELEA Schools Program – Phoenix College

9. © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013
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 Tracy Landt – Unicorn
Park Equestrian Centre
Ø Last but not least – Paul,
Grace, James and Lachlan
McVeigh.