In addition to riding sessions, Pegasus offers people with special needs the opportunity to participate in non-riding activities that still incorporate therapeutic human-horse interaction. One such activity is Horses & Me, our equine learning and barn education program. Lesson topics include, but are not limited to, general safety and awareness, horse health care, stable management and equine behavior.
One important goal of the program is to provide special-needs students, foster-care children and at-risk youth opportunities to develop a wide range of social skills while working with horses, their peers, our volunteers and our staff.
Below is a summary of the many benefits of the Horses & Me program:
Physical: General stable management and horse care provide the opportunity for developing strength and endurance while taking pride in accomplishments. An example is grooming, which incorporates large muscle groups as well as fine motor skills. The groomer is constantly stretching, bending and reaching, requiring balance and coordination.
Social/relationships: Students have the chance to work together and help one another. They also have the opportunity to build relationships with the volunteers, the instructors and the horses they care for. This helps with the development of social and teambuilding skills while enhancing cooperation and respect for others.
Routine/sequencing/responsibility: Various aspects of stable management assist in the development of multiple skills. Again using grooming as an example, the activity has a specific order to it, which brings routine and sequencing into play. In addition, each student’s work has a direct impact on the horse’s health and well-being. This establishes a sense of responsibility and pride. Finally, when the student has finished grooming his or her horse, there is an “inspection,” which creates a standard the student must strive to achieve.
Reflection: A performance review allows for self-evaluation, helping the student to identify individual strengths as well as areas of opportunity. For example, at the end of each session, the students write notes with the assistance of their mentors: What did you do today? What did you like best? What would you like to do next week or learn more about? Do you feel you met your personal goals for this week’s lesson?
Listening skills: Horses talk to us with body language, a language that our students will learn to “speak.” Learning to listen to a horse’s body language is, in large part, what keeps us safe around these large animals. During this process the students learn to be focused, which assists them in becoming more attentive to their environment while increasing social interaction with others.
Calming: Students have the opportunity to learn skills for self-regulation in working with horses; this in turn fosters cooperation in social situations. For example, horses respond favorably to a slow, quiet demeanor and a soft voice. As the students strive to become calmer and more soothing, they start to notice the positive effect their behavior has on their horse.
Confidence/empowerment: So many of our students have physical disabilities, challenges that may limit them and obstacles they must overcome on a daily basis. Horses are the great equalizer. The development of the human-equine bond assists students in gaining respect, trust and leadership skills. Students can further develop their own ability for enhanced communication, cooperation and self-esteem. These skills are then carried forward after students leave the farm environment. Students are able to transfer their newfound skills into other aspects of their lives, thus increasing confidence and empowering them to do more.
