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[Type text] © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013 [Type text]

Equine Learning Experiences Australia

Newsletter # 6 September 2013

Winter in Ballarat is not for the faint hearted. However the participants who have braved the regions temperatures over the past few months and stepped into the arena and round yard with the ELEA herd of horses have truly warmed our

[Type text] © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013 [Type text]

ELEA Womens Program

Hey, my names Harley Gorman and I'm from Ararat north west of Ballarat which is where the Equestrian centre is.   I started this program on the 18th of July (The day before I turned 18). I'm usually an angry depressed person and I tend to hold my emotions in and bottle them up and take it out on the people closest to me.   After starting this seven week program I have learnt to accept my emotions and the fact that everyone feels the same way at some point in their lives. I started this program because like I said earlier I am a depressive angry person. That all came about on the 29/07/07. 10 days after my 12th birthday when I found out that my mother had passed away in a car accident.   This program has taught me how to be who I am and how to basically use my negative emotions to be a happier person. Spending time with the horses (which I was initially afraid of) has been beneficial.    Spending time with the horses allows me to learn how I feel inside as they are mirroring animals, the basically display the same level of the same emotion that a person is.  This program has been amazing and has turned my life around, I'd recommend this program to absolutely anyone having trouble in their life or just feeling down.   I am now a much happier and cheerful person and I owe it all to Emily and everyone else who has helped me through these difficult times in my life.   Thank-you everyone, I will miss you all. :) 

Harley’s Journey

The ELEA Womens program and the participants that courageously open their minds and hearts to the process of personal development and healing through horses, never cease to amaze me with their strength of spirit and character. This years winter program was no exception and warmed our hearts despite the chilly temperatures outside… The following contribution from Liz highlighted the journey and the joy…….I was in a unique position before I started the Empowerment Program for women as I was conducting research into the benefits of Equine Assisted Learning for disabled and non-disabled adults at the time. Through my research I was aware of the objectives of EAL and the positive effects that participating in an EAL program can have on those who participate in a program.  As a result, I entered the program as a participant and as a researcher. However, as the first day unfolded and I was exposed to the different characters of the horses and the activities which forced me to evaluate past and present relationships I began to realise the researcher in me was taking a step  back and allowing me, the participant  the opportunity  to fully appreciate the phenomena that was taking place.  The opportunity to create a space where I was able explores and reflect upon the relationships between, fear–courage, dominance–partnership, empowerment–disempowerment and clarity–ambiguity within the different relationships within my life.’ The overwhelming size and strength of the horses also demanded my attention and respect and required from me a level of attentiveness. As a result of the level of awareness I was experiencing, as Emily created activities where the horses were my co-workers and teachers I was able to development an understanding of what it really meant to be present in a particular moment.  Something I have tried very hard most of my life to avoid and that was to deal with the moment …………cont……

Each session I attended, I came in a different emotional state which I was unaware of but soon became apparent to me by the behaviour of the horses. Over the years like most people I have become an expert at masking my true emotions from others and even to myself.  However, as clever as I believed myself to be when it came to masking or hiding what emotional state I was truly experiencing at a particular moment, I came undone in the company of the horse. 

I was able to give myself permission to be present to the emotions I was feeling and to allow oppressed emotions to surface and flow away and experience each emotion, not to own it or hold on to it, but just let it pass without judgement of myself.   Even to this day, I give myself permission to explore, but not own any emotion that does not allow me grow in a positive way.

ELEA Womens Program - Liz’s journey continued………..

When I presented verbal communication that did not reflect my internal state to the horse I happened to be working with, or behaved in a manner that did not reflect my internal state, the horse instinctively reacted by becoming restless or  moving away from me. 

From the very reaction of the horse it made me reflect and become aware of the emotion I was really experiencing. As a result from this experience I have been able to address emotions and problems that arise in my life and instead of dismissing them, I acknowledge them and try and find productive and efficient solutions and then,   move on.  – Liz Downie

[Type text] © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013 [Type text]

The ELEA Womens program and the participants that courageously open their minds and hearts to the process of personal development and healing through horses, never cease to amaze me with their strength of spirit and character. This years winter program was no exception and warmed our hearts despite the chilly temperatures outside… The following contribution from Liz highlighted the journey and the joy…….I was in a unique position before I started the Empowerment Program for women as I was conducting research into the benefits of Equine Assisted Learning for disabled and non-disabled adults at the time. Through my research I was aware of the objectives of EAL and the positive effects that participating in an EAL program can have on those who participate in a program.  As a result, I entered the program as a participant and as a researcher. However, as the first day unfolded and I was exposed to the different characters of the horses and the activities which forced me to evaluate past and present relationships I began to realise the researcher in me was taking a step  back and allowing me, the participant  the opportunity  to fully appreciate the phenomena that was taking place.  The opportunity to create a space where I was able explores and reflect upon the relationships between, fear–courage, dominance–partnership, empowerment–disempowerment and clarity–ambiguity within the different relationships within my life.’ The overwhelming size and strength of the horses also demanded my attention and respect and required from me a level of attentiveness. As a result of the level of awareness I was experiencing, as Emily created activities where the horses were my co-workers and teachers I was able to development an understanding of what it really meant to be present in a particular moment.  Something I have tried very hard most of my life to avoid and that was to deal with the moment …………cont……

Emily, the horses and the other participants for sharing your knowledge, wisdom and experience.

During the program I laughed and cried and felt safe and supported, but never pressured, to share my stories and insights with the other wonderful women who took part also.

It was a beautiful journey within my greater journey, many amazing moments of clarity, understanding, acceptance and peace. Thank you so much to Emily, the horses and the other participants for sharing your knowledge, wisdom and experience.

Teresa’s journey – ELEA Womens Program – Earlier this year, I had the privilege of taking part in an ELEA women's program. It was a life changing experience, stunning in it's simplicity, it all comes down to you and the horse in a round yard. The program came at a time in my journey when I was ready to tackle the big issues. It kicked started a wave of energy which continues to gain momentum and propel me toward living a fully authentic life, present in the moment and coming from the heart - all phrases I understand more deeply now.

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Daniel and Bonny’s 9 week ELEA Journey

I was very privileged to be able to have my son attending the ELEA program. He received an ABI and also has High Functioning Autism. Prior to commencement he could not understand his emotions or identify them, nor how he was feeling. He had no idea on understanding body cues and could not focus for any period of time. After completing the program he was aware of his senses and picking up on body cues, boundaries, and could focus enough to calm himself when he could feel the onset of a meltdown. He also learnt to ground himself, and his work with the horses assisted him in being able to communicate with an extremely timid scared dog. I couldn't recommend the program enough to anyone who is caring for someone with sensory issues, socialisation, boundary, and emotional issues. Thank you very much for the dedication and effort you put into Daniels program Emily. Was such a pleasure for us all, Thanks, Bonnie.

I thought that my experience with ELEA was interesting I found it enjoyable it helped me with my animals and my life, like how I've calmed down a lot at school. and I think it's entertaining with the horses. and the accessories I got are very warm- Thanks Daniel

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oLife Changing steps forward for a 6 year My son Cooper, 7, was diagnosed with moderate-severe autism at a very young age. Cooper is virtually non-verbal and occasionally can manage to say a word, but they are few and far between. Cooper also has sensory integration problems and is constantly seeking movement and feeling things to seek out sensations. Despite of all this, Cooper is quite a happy little boy who enjoys life.When I first heard about Equine Learning Experiences Australia and their programs, I did not know exactly what to expect, but I had previously heard that horses have a special connection with people with disabilities. I did not expect miracles, but decided to keep an open-mind and thought anything that could possibly make a difference in Cooper’s life was worth participating in.Our first session was very brief to see if Cooper was interested. When Cooper met ‘Razzle Dazzle’ he went straight up to her and gave her the biggest hug. He grabbed Emily’s hand to gesture that he wanted her to help him up. He put his face into Razzle’s mane to feel her hair with his lips. The smile on his face made me realise that this therapy was worth pursuing. When I said that it was time to go home, his face dropped and he was clearly sad to be leaving. The next morning Cooper got dressed for school and said “bus”. I was stunned as he had never said this before and the bus was due to arrive shortly. Over the course of the next week, Cooper’s teacher had said that he was saying more words at school. I noticed that he was saying more single words at home and they were all appropriate to what he was trying to do and not just repeating words that he had heard me say.The night of our second session, Cooper came up to me after tea and said “bath”. I was stunned because he’d never said that to me before. After bathing Cooper he said “bed”. I quickly put him to bed, he fell straight to sleep and slept there all night, as he has done every night since then. This was such a huge step for us because Cooper used to have to fall to sleep in the bean bag and be carried off to his bed after he’d fallen to sleep. If he was put in bed awake then he’d be awake until 2.00 in the morning.Since then Cooper has continued to say more words, more often. He has even said a few 2-3 word sentences, has sung a song he was listening to on the radio and has been the happiest I have ever seen him. At our last session Cooper even said “bye Razzle” when it

[Type text] © Equine Learning Experiences Australia 2013 [Type text]

The year to date has been full of some wonderful experiences with the ELEA team. The wisdom and authenticity of the ELEA herd continues to support people in changing people’s lives in a positive way. It is a humbling experience to be part of the journey.For all enquiries about ELEA programs either for Youth / Schools, Women , Disability sector, Employment Readiness Leadership or Team Building please contact Emily McVeigh by phone on # 0415 991 115 or email on emily@elea.com.au or go to the ELEA website for more

Sponsors and Supporters:

Greg and the Team at the Haymarket

Andy Stock at Mr Ed Equine Products

Phoenix College - Sebastopol

Tracy Landt – Unicorn Park Equestrian Centre

Last but not least – Paul, Grace, James and Lachlan Mcveigh.

Equine Learning Experiences Australia have just kicked off a third and fourth 10 week program for a group of year 10 students at Phoenix College (Sebastopol High School). To date we have explored and practiced in an experiential model with the horses foundational life skills. After three weeks we have covered……

social and emotional learning, mindfulness strategies and techniques effective communication leadership qualities

ELEA Schools Program – Phoenix College