Children, horses, therapeutic , social skills , outdoors learning , emotional development , self aw For more information, please phone us on 087 1525956
Equine Assisted learning can facilitate you or your child or team to focus on developing these key competencies which are vital for socialization and development. Emotional Intelligence Core Competencies;
Self-Management: Managing emotions and behaviors to achieve ones goals ; including learning the signs of stress and developing appropriate stress management strategies, increasing patience and perseverance and positive regard for self -care
Self-Awareness: Recognizing ones emotions and values as well as ones strengths and weaknesses. We ask participants to reflect on the pony’s behaviours in the arena in order to facilitate a conversation on what self-awareness means to the participant. Responsible Decision making; Making ethical constructive choices about personal and social behaviors; we also refer this as risk management as we are seeing an increase in children who are unable to manage real risk due to virtual reality games and over exposure to technology ; i.e. walking up to a horses in a video game in a dangerous manner has no consequences for the child playing the game .In the arena, we teach responsible risk management personal safety and boundaries where risk is tangible. For safety of participants, risk is monitored by a personnel designated to manage the equine(s) and the equine learning facilitator. Relationship Skills; Forming positive relationships working in teams, communication , give and take ,compromise and so on are key life skills that all persons need to develop and they cannot be attained in a real manner on face book , snap chat etc because there is no opportunity for real tangible interactions . In the arena we set team tasks with the participant and their EAL pony so issues that emerge in relation to non-verbal communication , assertiveness , confidence etc. can be addressed in a experiential facilitated manner
Equine Assisted Learning originates from Animal Assisted Therapy. In the 1970’s research showed that war veterans working with horses helped the recovery process from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. Interest peaked in its benefits and further research showed that Horses, being a herd animal are highly sensitive to picking up on human emotions.Recent research by Hannah Louise Burgon ( 2011)confirmed its benefits. In effect, horses mirror human emotions with their behaviors. In an Equine Assisted Session ground work is completed by the participant and the horse (s)..there is no horse -back riding involved.Basic horse safety is taught prior to working with the horses. Safety in the Arena and working with horses ;
We expect all participants to wear regulation head gear , which we will provide you with and to dress appropriately for sessions including wearing durable outdoor footwear and clothing , wearing suitable gloves for leading exercises , wearing no jewellery and following staff instruction. We reserve the right to stop a session at any time if the participant or horses welfare is at risk. In advance of all planned sessions, a meeting is held with the designated Equine Handler and the Equine Facilitator to discuss the selection of a suitable equine for the participants with respect to their age and level of ability. We only select horses and ponies that are older and or retired from mainstream equestrian activities.
17/07/2022
I was delighted to contribute to this article by Geraldine Walsh Writing Services in the The Irish Times about the tendency that many of us have to over protect our children, particularly those who struggle with anxiety. We talk about the importance of finding our own 'inner bravery' in order to help our children find theirs. We are the most effective tool we have to support our anxious children. We don’t need to have all the answers, and we don’t need to always get it right, instead we can try to maintain a calm presence in their lives.
Twice-exceptional, or 2e kids have exceptional ability but also disability. They may have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or another learning disorder. And they have a unique set of issues that need addressing.
27/01/2022
THE Government has been called on to allocate resources for the provision of a range of therapies required by more than 3,000 children in north Cork.
24/01/2022
They can have a split personality: seeming virtuous, but vindictive and self-righteous
23/01/2022
Covid anxiety has caused crippling damage to children
01/01/2022
It is SO powerful for a child to be seen for who they are deep down, not just at the surface❤️
04/12/2021
TEACHING CHILDREN SOCIAL SKILLS CAN BE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS TEACHING ACADEMICS
This is a great chart that shows social skills that children should be learning through interactions at school and at home.
Covid 19 is impacting on every aspect of our social world and community norms. As we approach what should be a time of family and community many people will be alone or feeling alone and isolated. if anyone just wants to chat or connect send a message you may feel alone but your not reach out . We are not therapists just a community social and therapeutic project for wellbeing and supporting self care stop by send a private message let us know how you are ###
03/12/2021
Traumatic events can affect how a child's brain develops. And that can have lifelong consequences.
09/04/2021
Social and emotional development skills are a primary focus of our work outdoors with equines on our Clipty Clop children program .
This chart gives a lovely overview of what these key skills are .. ..
TEACHING CHILDREN SOCIAL SKILLS CAN BE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS TEACHING ACADEMICS
This is a great chart that shows social skills that children should be learning through interactions at school and at home.
“Gillian es una niña de siete años que no puede sentarse en la escuela. Se levanta continuamente, se distrae, vuela con los pensamientos y no sigue las lecciones. Sus profesores se preocupan, la castigan, la regañan, premian las pocas veces que está atenta, pero nada, Gillian no sabe sentarse y no puede estar atenta. Cuando llega a casa, mamá también la castiga. Así que Gillian no sólo tiene malas notas y castigo en la escuela, sino que también los sufre en casa.
Un día, la madre de Gillian es llamada a la escuela. La señora, triste como quien espera malas noticias, la toma de la mano y va a la sala de entrevistas. Los profesores hablan de enfermedad, de un trastorno evidente. Quizás es hiperactividad o tal vez necesite un medicamento. Durante la entrevista llega un viejo profesor que conoce a la pequeña. Pide a todos los adultos, madre y colegas, que lo sigan a una habitación contigua desde donde todavía se la puede ver. Al irse, le dice a Gillian que volverán enseguida y le enciende una vieja radio con música. Como la niña se encuentra sola en la habitación, inmediatamente se levanta y comienza a moverse hacia arriba y abajo persiguiendo con los pies y el corazón la música en el aire. El profesor sonríe mientras los colegas y la madre lo miran entre confundidos y compasivos, como a menudo se hace con los viejos. Entonces él dice:
"¿Ven? Gillian no está enferma, ¡Gillian es bailarina!".
Le recomienda a la madre que la lleve a una clase de baile y a sus colegas que la hagan bailar de vez en cuando.
Ella asiste a su primera lección y cuando llega a casa le dice a su mamá: "Todos son como yo, ¡allí nadie puede sentarse!"
En 1981, después de una carrera de bailarina, de abrir su propia academia de baile y recibir reconocimientos internacionales por su arte, Gillian lynne se convierte en la coreógrafa del musical “Cats”.
Ojalá todos los niños “diferentes” encuentren adultos capaces de acogerlos por lo que son y no por lo que les falta”.
Que vivan las diferencias, las ovejitas negras y los incomprendidos. Son quienes crean belleza en este mundo.
26/03/2021
15/03/2021
14/03/2021
A consultant paediatrician is calling for the allocation of "massive resources" to deal with the ...
09/03/2021
Instead of focusing on the challenges facing disabled people, we should emphasize goals.
06/03/2021
I know I keep ranting about this and I have no intention of stopping. It's something I rant about not because I am a therapist rather than a teacher, but because I was a teacher before I became a therapist.
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Horses Assisted Therapy facilitates the development of practical life & social skills; for us it makes sense when you combine an outdoors learning program with working with horses the therapeutic benefit is tangible
In a world /society that tells you that you or your child is different ‘specific ‘ ‘special ‘ ‘academically challenged ”has delayed speech ‘ learning delay ‘bullied’ or ‘don’t fit in ‘in foster care’ ‘in state care . Where people are constantly labeled for what ‘we are not capable of ‘ rather then what we are capable of ….
Would you like them to become resilient and self assured so they can find their own solutions to these life challenges and really take ownership of their unique abilities with confidence say ‘I am me I am special the way I am ” ?
If the answer is yes, then you are in the right place for where you are right now at this moment .
Why ? Working with horses is a gentle way to explore self development ( confidence social skills & strong verbal and non verbal communication strategies ) you will be amazed at what you or your child discovers within themselves .In a world /society that tells you that you or your child is different ‘specific ‘ ‘special ‘ ‘academically challenged ”has delayed speech ‘ learning delay or ‘don’t fit in ‘in foster care’ ‘in state care ”bullied’. Where people are constantly labeled for what ‘we are not capable of ‘ rather then what we are capable of ….
Would you like them to become resilient and self assured so they can find their own solutions to these life challenges and really take ownership of their unique abilities with confidence say ‘I am me I am special the way I am ” ?
If the answer is yes, then you are in the right place for where you are right now at this moment .
Why ? Working with horses is a gentle way to explore life challenges you will be amazed at what you or your child discovers within themselves .
Our Director of Services Elaine Murphy has extensive experience working with children and teenagers ; in the past She with The HSE and in Early Education ; including managing a Community Childcare Service and in a primary school delivering Learning Support to students . Elaine always believed that all children can learn but children learn in different ways and outdoor learning can be a fun way to engage children in developing wellbeing - confidence and building social and personal development skills which are the building blocks for any formal learning .
