Children & Adolescents

Does your child feel isolated, has trouble communicating, doesn’t fit in, maybe they feel like they’re always trying to keep up and life just feels like one big roller coaster? 

Well it doesn’t have to be this way. Wouldn’t it be nice if they felt good about themselves, and had the confidence to manage their daily challenges? We want our children to look in the mirror and love what they see, knowing they are accepted for their unique self.

Here at Equine Human Mindfulness we offer just that; and the best part is we do it all alongside our team of horses and ponies.

The Horse Wisdom Program is a 7 session program focusing on key skills:

  • Self regulation
  • Boundary setting
  • Self esteem
  • Improved social skills
  • Managing stress
  • Problem solving
  • Meaningful connection
  • Empathy and relationship skills
  • Promoting movement and activity
  • Connection with nature

Each session focuses on one area and at the end it all comes together giving us the tools to face life’s challenges.

 

Week 1 : Calm state – being calm and having a regulated nervous system is the foundation of physical, emotional and mental health.

Week 2 : Awareness – The horses are aware, noticing and feeling what is happening in their environment and  bodies. They live in the present moment. How can we be more like horses?

Week 3 : Boundaries – It is your boundaries that keep you safe. Your boundaries are your yes and your no. What feels ok for you and what is not ok for you in the moment. How you like to be touched and spoken to; your personal space. Horses clearly communicate their boundaries.

Week 4 : Feelings – Feelings are information for you. Your feelings help you understand yourself, your needs, your actions or the moment your feelings “want to express”. All feelings are welcome, fear, sadness, anger, joy. Horses have the same feelings as we do, they feel it, they express it, they let it go.

Week 5 : Relationship – healthy, enduring relationships require emotional and physical safety, trust, listening, give and take and clear boundaries. 

Horses model healthy relationships with clear boundaries and authentic responses.

Week 6 : Thinking / Talking – How you think, what thoughts you say to yourself (about yourself, others, life) impacts how you feel, hold your body, behave and build relationships. Become aware of what thoughts you offer yourself, about others or about life. Are they helpful, kind, accepting or harmful, critical, unkind.

Horses respond to your thoughts because they can feel your intention through energy, posture and smell.

Week 7 : Facing Life’s Challenges – Life is sometimes good and sometimes difficult. How do we manage when life throws us challenges and stressful events? 

We manage challenges by using awareness, our breathing, grounding, being clear with our boundaries, accepting and managing our feelings, have healthy supportive relationships and ask for help.

 

If we teach our children these skills they will have the opportunity to flourish in life, happy and content knowing they have control of their lives.

Participant Requirements

 

This program is not a course in horse riding or horse training, however there will be lots of educational pieces about horses during the sessions that will improve participant’s knowledge of horses and herd behavior. 

 

Participants discover how horses survive and thrive and learn how we can adapt these attributes to our day to day lives to improve our health and wellbeing.

Challenges such as focus and concentration, difficulties with reading, sensory processing challenges and social skill deficits are all easily taken care of because everyone has the opportunity to learn at their own pace and in an experimental way.  

 

Sessions are fun with a variety of activities, this includes activities with our horses / ponies incorporating “nature” and “play” based experiential learning experiences. We observe, interact, groom and lead with the horses and ponies.

All experiences with the horses are “ground based” and there is no need for prior horse or riding experience. Safety guidelines are provided at the beginning of each session and supervision is provided at all times.

 

Group Size : We can offer a group for either 4 or 6 participants. 

Session Duration : Each session is 1.5hrs in duration and we cover one theme each session. The program can be run over 7 consecutive weeks on the same day and time each week or fortnight.

Session Location : Equine Human Mindfulness, located in Whittlesea Victoria.

Costs : $560 per participant for the 7-session program. Payment for the program is required prior to commencement and no refunds will be offered for non attendance at any session. 

Wet Weather : We have sheltered areas where we can proceed in most circumstances. 24 Hours notice will be provided if a session needs to be rescheduled.

If you would like any more information or any questions answered please contact us by email or phone.

If you would like anymore information or any questions answered please contact us either by ph 0418-493-516 or email info@equinehumanmindfulness.com.au