Riding Programs Offered
Why Horses?
Horses have long been recognised as a source of entertainment and pleasure, in the wild they are prey animals whose very existence depends on their ability to sense the underlying current or emotion of their surroundings. As a domesticated animal, that inherent ability is still very acute and they are instantly attuned to any lack of congruency in those around them; couple that with the basic curiosity and playfulness of these animals, they become skilled at interpreting and echoing exactly what the human body language is conveying. It is this unique sense of awareness and ability to reflect human emotions make them the perfect co-facilitators to help people learn about themselves, others' perceptions of them, and how their actions are interpreted.
Humans, on the other hand, are predators. We have inherent hunter behaviours that make working with horses challenging. Humans as hunters are very goal-oriented. Many times this goal focus blinds us to what is happening around us. We focus so strongly on the goal that everything else is blurred - we ignore valuable input and become oblivious to how our actions and behaviours are affecting others. We often sacrifice others and ourselves for the sake of winning, closing the deal, getting the promotion or buying the next company.
What has recently become more accepted is that horses are masterful at teaching life lessons and making core changes in the way we approach our lives. Herd dynamics become powerful metaphors for leadership, teamwork, non-verbal communication, appropriate boundary setting, and illustrating group and family function. And, for those willing to pause for a moment in the company of these majestic animals, many have found moments of intense peace in an otherwise hectic, often demanding, frustrating, and challenging world. In summary, Equine Assisted Growth, Learning and Education is a short term approach, that affects real and lasting change, allowing the participant to experience the reality of making choices and projecting attitudes. The horses show us a different way of relating with others, our environment and ourselves. Horses teach us awareness, integrity, respect and trust.
Our four major riding programs are as per below:
Healing Hooves - Equine Assisted Psychotherapy >>
Shumbashaba Therapeutic Riding Programme >>
Turning Loose – Integrated sport and skill riding program >>
