YOUTH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IF OUR SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION DOES NOT HAVE THE BUDGET TO DO THE PROGRAM?
Contact us to discuss options, we are always willing to help and do not want money or budget to get in the way of youth accessing this life changing program. Our mission is to never turn away a child or school. We will work with you and what you have available through your school/organization.
​
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
Transportation is the responsibility of the school/organization. Usually participants are brought out by chaperones and/or teachers in the mode of transportation they have available to them. There is a map of our location and how to get there on our contact page on our website. There is pavement right to our laneway and there is lots of space for larger vehicles.
​
DO WE NEED TO BRING ANY EQUIPMENT?
All necessary equipment is provided. Participants need to wear closed toed shoes and clothes they don’t mind getting dirty.
​
PAPERWORK/FORMS?
Any permission forms required can be sent to you, just contact us.
​
SUPERVISORS?
The group should have 1-2 teachers or staff members/adults accompany them during the program.
​
WHAT SIZE ARE YOUR GROUPS?
As small as 2 to a maximum of 8. If you have a number that does not fall into this range don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss other options. We can make any number work?
​
DO WE RIDE?
Not for this program! The participants work with the horses on the ground in their natural state. The horses are part of the team and as you work alongside them they can be their true selves. Their reactions to you as a participant enables them to work with you and provide the best learning possible.
​
DO I NEED HORSE EXPERIENCE?
No prior horse experience is necessary. We go through all the safety precautions and rules with every group when they first arrive, as the safety of the participants and horses are our first priority. We will accommodate each participants comfort level around the horses.
​
WHAT IF I'M SCARED OF THE HORSES? WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE HORSES?
Sometimes we need to push ourselves to do things that aren’t comfortable or that we don’t think we like. Usually it’s outside of our comfort zone that we learn the most. This is an opportunity to work on fears and change attitudes. Some people who attend our programs are terrified when they start the program, but in the end have learned a great deal about themselves and their teachers and have overcome their fears.
​
WHAT IF THE WEATHER DOESN'T COOPERATE?
We have an indoor arena which will help in all weather conditions. If it is extremely cold out or the roads are unsafe we will look at options.
​
WHY HORSES?
Animals aren’t they all the same, why horses, instead of cats or dogs? Horses are able to see into the participants personality through their highly sensitive and survival nature. They are prey animals which enables them to react to participants through the stimulus presented to them. The horses react to the participants through body language which in turn encourages the participants to change their feelings or behaviours in order to work successfully with the horses.
​
WHAT CAN HORSES TEACH ME THAT HUMANS CAN'T?
-
Horses are consistent models of assertiveness and teach us how to be assertive
-
Horses don’t lie and don’t overthink a participant’s motive
-
Horses are immediate and honest with feedback
-
Horse instincts and senses are very astute
-
Horses help to engage the feelings of empathy and kindness
-
Horses are herd animals with natural behaviours that require trust, respect and teamwork from all team members
-
Horses respond to feelings and behaviours such as confusion and frustration automatically as they can put the herd at risk
-
Horses lead with certainty, not force
-
Horses each have their own personalities; therefore, have different teaching methods
​
WHAT MAKES YOU REMEMBER?
Hands-on learning! Simply put when we work with horse’s vs a classroom setting we learn differently through the interactivity. We take away skills which we learn through our experiences. The relationship we make with the horses are very powerful and through that relationship we engage each participants body, mind and spirit.
​
​
​
​