The Equine Learning Experiences Australia (ELEA) schools program, supports students to reach their full potential and
build upon foundational life skills using experiential learning with horses in groundwork activities.
The ELEA schools program is aimed at students who are:
• Disengaged or at risk of disengagement • Are needing guidance and support emotionally or socially • Are not responding to a traditional classroom / school setting • Have limited self awareness or awareness of self on others • Have special needs
My experience of the Equine Learning Experiences (ELEA) Program – By Olivia Treloar
At first I thought, wow what does this have to do with anything in my life? During the time that I have done this course I have been through a lot. I was fighting with my mum constantly, doing what I wanted, breaking the rules and not listening to what everyone was telling me.
My many mistakes resulted in me not being able to live at home. In these last few weeks I have come to the realisation that this was nobody elses fault but my own.
My lack of awareness has pushed everybody that were trying to help me awayThinking back to when I was younger I was incongruent 99% of the time (learning objecitbve. Lying to everybody about the way I felt. At times my boundaries were either completely solid or totally down. I thought that if I didn’t show how I felt then no-one could judge me. Instead I was bullied. I trusted no-one and my habit of lying to everyone about my emotions emerged. I am 16 now and I can honestly say that I have no friends. Emily has helped me understand what is going on for me. I cannot hold conversations, I have poor communication skills. When I want to get a point across I tend to go about it the wrong way. I believe that I am very confronting and at times very overwhelming. In my mind everybody else ‘should’ understand me but they don’t, hmmmm wonder why? Because people can’t read minds.
My Self esteem at the moment is low and has been for a long time. Constantly being put down by everyone around me that in reality didn’t matter to me has really affected me. Even now I still put my slef down. Emily explained that this is false self voice. Quite often the thing that I failed to see was the bigger picture. Horses see the world in soft eye taking in everything. Seeing that there might only be one solution to a problem is an issue for me and I can often become frustrated that I can’t do it the way I was shown. I ground myself pften now. It has become easier for me the more I do it. It has made me a calmer person in some different situations.
Emily spoke of the saying ‘Doing my head in’, trying to juggle everything in my mind made it hard for me to focus on what was right in front of me… what happened that morning or what might happen later on that day always …’Did my head in’. I couldn’t handle it. Always getting mixed up with that no-one wanted anything to do with me.
Since doing this course, the things that I have discovered about myself are amazing and it’s all thanks to Emily and the Equine Learning course.
Olivia Treloar
Learning Outcomes I have had from the course:
• Mindfulness • Self Awareness • Congruence • Honoring your emotions • Boundaries • False self voice / Authentic Self Voice • Taking in your whole environment
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The Programs that we offer assist students to engage in learning in an experiential setting, drawing upon nature and horses. Learning objectives are based around
• Mindfulness • Sensory Awareness • Honoring emotions • Clear Communication • Healthy Boundaries • Problem Solving • Being your Authentic Self • Self Awareness / Awareness of Self on others • Leadership qualities • Writing and story telling (literacy skills)
This alternative model of learning has already been piloted in several school systems in Canada and the USA with proven success and supports students to remain engaged in learning. The curriculum uses a strength based teaching model where students can learn by doing. For further information contact Emily McVeigh at ‘Equine Learning Experiences Australia’ on ph. 0415 991 115 or email [email protected] or go to the ELEA website www.elea.com.au
Testimonial:
I have a 16 year old son who has a learning and social delay. These disabilities have effected his ability to fit socially within the community. Emily has taken Brannon through the equine course which has aided his awareness of social cues and his responses to them both externally and internally. These new and growing talents have made his next steps moving forward into employment a smoother and more successful experience. The input Brannon has had from Emily and the equine learning program has changed my sons life in a wonderful way. Thanks David McDonald
