Equine Assisted Learning is taught by a Certified Instructor. All Instructors are certified with Eagala and OK Corral. In the Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) class the students will participate in equine activities. When they arrive at the farm they will start with EAL. The activities in the arena will prepare them for class room discussion later.
Horses are most effectively used in EAL as metaphors for life, attitudes, and behaviors. For example, students may be asked to make a horse go over a jump set up in the arena, which sounds simple until the rules are stated: No touching the horse whatsoever; cannot use a lead rope or halter; cannot bribe the horse with food real or imagined; there will be a consequence for every rule broken. When the activity starts, students discover how difficult it can be to complete the task. Issues such as anger management, frustration, control, and others can quickly rear up and provide interesting fodder for a discussion afterward. Students are also asked to relate the activity to themselves by deciding who was represented by the horse, by the students, by the activity itself. Oftentimes, students decide that they were the horse and that their parents were represented by themselves. Students sometimes will have a better appreciation for what their parents may have gone through in trying to get them to do what their parents want! This is just one of the many activities that we do at Spirit Ridge HAP. After activities in the arena the students go inside for classroom time with at Therapist or certified teacher. In the class room they will discuss the horse activates and start the curriculum “The Journey”.
Horse Advantage Program(HAP)
How the Program Works:
Spirit Ridge Horse Advantage Program was
created for individuals that need a little help getting off the wrong
road they are on and getting back on the road to whatever they consider a
success. HAP gives them hope that it is not to late to change direction in life. Believing
that it is worth while to make the changes necessary for success in
their life and give them support and help with the process.
Our goal at Spirit Ridge HAP is to try to ensure that these individuals never return to the court system again. Helping them see that there are better choices that they could make and help give them the courage to make those choices.
The HAP program is a 8 week program with 10 to 12 individuals in the class. The class is made up of two parts. Equine Assisted Learning and Class Room time with the curriculum “The Journey”. The students come out to the facility once a week at an appointed time. There will be a Horse Instructor and a Therapist or Certified Teacher to teach the class.
“The Journey” is a curriculum that helps students to see where they are in life and make the necessary changes that must be made for success in the world today. “ The Journey” focus on education, character and purpose. Every student will be expected to do out of class work and will be reward in small ways for their effort. The students will receive "The Journey" study guild to take home after the 8 week class is completed. They will have guest speakers, they will role play and have a lot of visual aids in this class. This curriculum was created to help individuals see that their dreams can come true if they are willing to work for them. That anything is possible if they try and to help them find the answers to the questions they might have while they are getting there.
