Learning Resilience - Horses and People · PDF fileearly twenties, I started learning ... it...
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www.horsesandpeople.com.au • HORSES and PEOPLE • Page 75 Jill Strachan, co-founder of Equine Learning for Futures, talks with Horses and People Magazine about how she applies learning theory in her practice, and the challenges that come with building, trust, self-confidence and resilience with her clients. Learning Resilience Images courtesy ELF Inc. I t takes a certain kind of person to do this work,” Jill says, as she recalls the recent frustration of a young client with one of her horses. A lifelong student of learning theory, Jill says “All of my horses’ training is based on learning theory and only those with solid training are chosen for this work.” But as a horse owner, “it takes all manner of self-control to resist the urge to step in and make a suggestion. For too long, our clients have heard the words “No, that’s wrong” repeated over and over, so that approach simply doesn’t work.” Horses provide the blend of patience and grounding that many clients have missed out on in the past and, it is through working with horses, that these children now have an opportunity to learn something new. “When they hit that mark, when that light goes on, that is what makes this work worthwhile. Our horses provide the foundation for learning that is positive and potentially life-changing.” Equine Learning for Futures, which has operating hubs in Mt Cotton, Willowvale and the Lockyer Valley, welcomes a vast array of young, at-risk clients. “Many have learning difficulties, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder or Autism,” Jill says. “Others have suffered trauma, such as violence, and quite a few are children in care... But all are unique.” Building trust and self-confidence are amongst her biggest challenges, as Jill explains that “without these foundations, it is difficult to facilitate a client in the achievement of their goals.” Although she has been an educator for more than 25 years, Jill says “being a teacher is my greatest asset and my greatest downfall. There is a vast difference between being a teacher and being a facilitator. An understanding of that difference determines our success with each client.” By Sophie Barrington Learning theory and the application of clear signals in the course of achieving manageable goals can be applied to all types of animals, including horses and people. Along with her co-facilitators, Hilary Stubbs and Kaye Pace, Jill operates in line with the principles of learning theory, both with her horses and with her clients. “After buying my first horse in my early twenties, I started learning about equine learning theory.” A passionate horsewoman, she says “Equine learning theory is like any learning theory - it can be applied to horses and to people.” Through her own practice at Equine Learning for Futures, Jill has discovered how learning theory applies to both horse and rider, and how equine assisted learning can also bring positive, and even unexpected, benefits to both. “Overcoming trauma is one of the greatest challenges for many of our clients,” Jill says. “My understanding of trauma has been changed most dramatically by the addition of one of our most popular equine facilitators at Equine Learning for Futures - a beautiful little grey pony named Elf.” Recalling the day she first met her grey Shetland Pony, who made news headlines in December 2010 after suffering extreme physical abuse, Jill’s eyes slowly well up with tears. “I can’t talk about our chance meeting without getting teary,” Jill laughs. “It was the day two world’s collided for me and everything about Equine Learning for Futures fell more firmly into place.” She warmly describes Elf as a cheeky pony whose size often shapes first impressions. “Young clients don’t feel threatened by Elf, but they quickly learn to treat him with as much respect as our race horses.” “Elf has brought so much to Equine Learning for Futures,” Jill says. “His story represents the foundations of the work we are trying to achieve with every client.” Jill explains that horses don’t learn when they are stressed and people don’t either. “What triggers that stress and anxiety varies and we, as facilitators, need to investigate that with our clients - either through discussions or through observing their behaviours. Just like horses, clients may lack the language to describe their stress or what makes them feel anxious. Facilitators need to have an understanding of what emotions may feel like and explore those descriptions with their clients.” At Equine Learning for Futures, facilitating is moulded to the learning abilities of each client. “By investigating trigger points and reducing anxiety into smaller, more manageable pieces, we provide a pathway where clients can achieve their own success.” and PASSION FOR HORSES Page 74 • HORSES and PEOPLE • Phone: 07 5467 9796 • [email protected] continues next page...
Transcript of Learning Resilience - Horses and People · PDF fileearly twenties, I started learning ... it...
www.horsesandpeople.com.au • HORSES and PEOPLE • Page 75
Jill Strachan, co-founder of Equine Learning for Futures, talks with Horses and People Magazine about how she
applies learning theory in her practice, and the challenges that come with building, trust, self-confidence and
resilience with her clients.
Learning ResilienceIm
ages
cou
rtes
y EL
F In
c.
It takes a certain kind of person to do this work,” Jill says, as she recalls the recent frustration of a young client with one of her horses. A lifelong student of learning theory, Jill says “All of my
horses’ training is based on learning theory and only those with solid training are chosen for this work.” But as a horse owner, “it takes all manner of self-control to resist the urge to step in and make a suggestion. For too long, our clients have heard the words
“No, that’s wrong” repeated over and over, so that approach simply doesn’t work.” Horses provide the blend of patience and grounding that many clients have missed out on in the past and, it is through working with horses, that these children now have an opportunity to learn something new. “When they hit that mark, when that light goes on, that is what makes this work worthwhile. Our horses provide the foundation for learning that is positive and potentially life-changing.”
Equine Learning for Futures, which has operating hubs in Mt Cotton, Willowvale and the Lockyer Valley, welcomes a vast array of young, at-risk clients. “Many have learning difficulties, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder or Autism,” Jill says. “Others have suffered trauma, such as violence, and quite a few are children in care... But all are unique.” Building trust and self-confidence are amongst her biggest challenges, as Jill explains that “without these foundations, it is difficult to facilitate a client in the achievement of their goals.” Although she has been an educator for more than 25 years, Jill says “being a teacher is my greatest asset and my greatest downfall. There is a vast difference between being a teacher and being a facilitator. An understanding of that difference determines our success with each client.”
By Sophie Barrington
Learning theory and the application of clear signals in the course of
achieving manageable goals can be applied to all types of animals,
including horses and people.
Along with her co-facilitators, Hilary Stubbs and Kaye Pace, Jill operates in line with the principles of learning theory, both with her horses and with her clients. “After buying my first horse in my early twenties, I started learning about equine learning theory.” A passionate horsewoman, she says “Equine learning theory is like any learning theory - it can be applied to horses and to people.” Through her own practice at Equine Learning for Futures, Jill has discovered how learning theory applies to both horse and rider, and how equine assisted learning can also bring positive, and even unexpected, benefits to both. “Overcoming trauma is one of the greatest challenges for many of our clients,” Jill says. “My understanding of trauma has been changed most dramatically by the addition of one of our most popular equine facilitators at Equine Learning for Futures - a beautiful little grey pony named Elf.” Recalling the day she first met her grey Shetland Pony, who made news headlines in December 2010 after suffering extreme physical abuse, Jill’s eyes slowly well up with tears. “I can’t talk about our chance meeting without getting teary,” Jill laughs. “It was the day two world’s collided for me and everything about Equine Learning for Futures fell more firmly into place.” She warmly describes Elf as a cheeky pony whose size often shapes first impressions. “Young clients don’t feel threatened by Elf, but they quickly learn to treat him with as much respect as our race horses.”
“Elf has brought so much to Equine Learning for Futures,” Jill says. “His story represents the foundations of the work we are trying to achieve with every client.” Jill explains that horses don’t learn when they are stressed and people don’t either. “What triggers that stress and anxiety varies and we, as facilitators, need to investigate that with our clients - either through discussions or through observing their behaviours. Just like horses, clients may lack the language to describe their stress or what makes them feel anxious. Facilitators need to have an understanding of what emotions may feel like and explore those descriptions with their clients.” At Equine Learning for Futures, facilitating is moulded to the learning abilities of each client. “By investigating trigger points and reducing anxiety into smaller, more manageable pieces, we provide a pathway where clients can achieve their own success.”
andPASSION FOR HORSES
Page 74 • HORSES and PEOPLE • Phone: 07 5467 9796 • [email protected]
continues next page...
Page 76 • HORSES and PEOPLE • Phone: 07 5467 9796 • [email protected] www.horsesandpeople.com.au • HORSES and PEOPLE • Page 77
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As a teacher, Jill says she has “25 years of a toolbox and 25 years’ confidence to know that something else will work.” But alongside the aims of Equine Learning for Futures, comes a careful balance between meeting the needs of each individual client and ensuring the safe wellbeing of each horse. “The common difficulties our horses experience in this work are understanding and confusion,” Jill says. “Most often, our clients don’t give the horse a clear signal, which is paramount to their understanding, both on the ground and under saddle.” Speaking to the well-known adage that horses mirror our behaviour, Jill says “it is through horses that clients are able to understand how their behaviour can change. A horse will not respond correctly or at all if a client isn’t asking clearly and this means they will need to alter their behaviour for the horse’s understanding. Most often, by making mistakes, they begin to learn.”
As an educator, Jill has a wealth of knowledge that she calls upon to understand each client’s goals. “I have access to understanding what kids think - both through my work in the school yard and in the arena,” she says. “But it also comes from knowing your horse.” Her property, nestled in the peaceful rural landscape of the Redland hinterlands, is home to 16 horses. “As a horsewoman, I know that a horse’s agenda is to be safe and I believe, at times, it is something as simple as their slow respiration rate that has the greatest impact on an at-risk client.” Her clients who come from all walks of life are able to find comfort in the presence of the horses at Equine Learning for Futures. “Horses like Elf, who have suffered past trauma themselves, are able to share in the experiences of our clients, in ways that others cannot.”
In the next few years, Equine Learning for Futures hopes to expand to the same level as Riding for the Disabled, with the added difference of providing services beyond physical and intellectual disabilities. “I would like to expand to all ages,” Jill says. “Working with returned soldiers and women who have suffered domestic violence are two new types of clients I would like Equine Learning for Futures to assist in the coming years.” When asked what motivates her to continue in this work, which can be both physically and emotionally demanding at times, Jill says “Equine Learning for Futures isn’t a job for everyone, but it provides me with an insight into how people can achieve their goals through working with horses. It is rewarding and satisfying and, at the end of the day, the core of our work is about one thing. We don’t tell people to be brave, but it is about resilience.”
To learn more about Equine Learning for Futures, go to www.equinelearningforfutures.com.au. You can also find Elf on Facebook and follow his story at www.facebook.com.au/elfthelittlegreypony.
If you are interested in more information about equine assisted learning, you can meet the team from Equine Assisted Qualifications, a partner organisation, at Equitana in Sydney from 7-10th November. Visit their website at www.equineassistedqualifications.com.
Horses like Elf, who have suffered past trauma themselves, are able to share in the experiences of our clients, in ways that others cannot.
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