What is Equine Facilitated Learning?
Through interactions with horses clients learn powerful new skills and develop existing ones, which can be implemented into their daily routine, whether that be at school, the work place, in relationships or their general home life. The nature of an EFL session is one that deals with the development of life skills and growth. EFL is a session where clients achieve goals through learning to work with horses. Through that interaction and learning how to communicate with them, we are learning skills that help improve quality of life such as trust, honesty, connection, self-regulation and self-confidence.
Learning outcomes
EFL in short, is an innovative approach in self-development, where people of all ages, sex and abilities, can enhance their levels of self-awareness through experimental learning with horses together with a practitioner to guide you in addressing any life struggles, future goals and discovering your next steps forward.
Developmental life changing mental and physical health benefits are shown on the image and below:
Problem solving
Leadership skills
Personal responsibility
Boundary setting
Cognitive skills
So why the horse?
As Shannon Knapp, author of More than a Mirror: Horses, Humans and Therapeutic Practices says “If you can substitute a bale of hay for a horse in any activity without a significant change to the activity, then it’s not EFP/EFL. Why have a horse there?” Rather than a tool, the horse is our partner in the exploration.
Horses are herd animals by nature, and are more concerned with the present moment (a survival instinct), than living in the past or future! If they sense danger or change around them, they immediately alert their herd members, by a swift body movement or gaze in the direction of suspicion, followed by a quick decision - usually flight in the opposite direction. If they feel threatened a decision is usually made by the lead mare or gelding of the herd. In human terms the people carrying out these life roles would usually be a Team Leader, Manager, Director, Teacher, Coach, Parent or Carer etc. Once the danger/task at hand has been put into action and successfully executed and the risk alleviated, horses return to grazing. Or they may walk/run in the direction of change, knowing that it is safe.
The horse’s gift to us
Horses enjoy life, taking it minute by minute, only thinking about ‘the now’, ‘the present’. By interacting and observing their behaviour towards us, and others, they can teach us valuable skills to have a healthier, happier internal mindset, that clears and free’s up our emotional and physical capacity to be ‘present’ in what we are doing, which in turn enhances our quality of life.
Oxytocin levels, also known as the bonding hormone, increase during interactions between humans and animals. This triggers an increase of trust towards others, lowers fear and anxiety, improves pain management, enhances learning and empathy towards self and others.
The non-verbal communication between you and the horse promotes quiet, peaceful time of self-reflection where there is no judgement. This strengthens the emotional bond that is created between you both.
Horses are large, powerful, incredibly sensitive and in-tune animals, and often mirror our behaviour or emotions, even the ones we think we can hide away or may not even be aware of ourselves. They reflect our behaviour by the way they interact with us, which allows us to focus on what we project outwardly. When we are aware of the thoughts or behaviour patterns that we present, and address those issues, the horse’s behaviour will noticeably change towards us.
The size and power of a horse is naturally intimidating to most, so accomplishing an activity involving the horse, can be incredibly rewarding, in spite of those fears, it creates confidence and boosts self-esteem.
Your learning has now begun and you find yourself suddenly discovering so much about yourself, your behaviours and actions. Help and support with change, adjustment or enhancing skills can be done with the horse as your guide and practitioner to observe and help you discover how you implement the next steps forward with your goals. Please get in touch