Equine facilitated learning
My passion and interest in all things equine started as a child and was rekindled when I moved to France. My pathway to EFL came initially from working with troubled horses who were often misunderstood and labelled as naughty and not safe for riding. I recognised that working with these magnificent, non-verbal beings, in a non-invasive way was not about force. It was about behaviour, boundaries, fairness, non-verbal communication, connection, congruence, patience. Trust.
What horses do and why
Horses are prey animals who live in herds. They are highly sensitive to the behaviour and intention of herd members and other animals, including human beings. They react and respond to their environment and other animals in the present moment, so their communication through body language is authentic.
Benefits of Equine Facilitated learning
Horses reflect and respond honestly to our behaviour – a true mirror to our thoughts and feelings.
Horses can help us with the following:
what does an E.F.L. session look like?
Understanding the natural behaviour of horses can make interacting with them much more rewarding, however, you do not need to have previous experience with horses to take part in an EFL session. There is no riding involved and no horse experience is necessary! All interactions with the horses are done in a safe environment from the ground.
The pace of the session is determined by you and your learning process. You may be invited to do an exercise but successful completion of this exercise is not the goal. The process of ‘doing’ is a far more valuable experience. My approach is flexible and we work together to find your unique relationship with the horses.
When you partner with a horse you can utilise the horse’s instinctive reactions to raise self-awareness and focus on what is happening in your body. Our bodies can only be here now – they can’t go back into the past or project into the future, whereas our minds can wander all over the place. If we can focus on our body it means we can be present and authentic.
My role is to observe and gently guide you, offering you time to process what is happening. The interaction between you and the horse takes place within a natural, supportive and nurturing environment.
In truth anyone can benefit from Equine Facilitated Learning as sessions can be tailored to your specific requirements. Activities range from watching the horses at a distance to leading, grooming, breathing with the horse, being with the horse while it grazes or building an obstacle and walking your horse around it.
Horses can help us to be truly present in our lives. Horses by their very nature teach us mindfulness.
