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STaRS depends on donations, grants and volunteer time. We exist both for the community, and because of the community. Our donors and volunteers are crucial to our success.
Equine Facilitated Wellness and Equine Assisted Learning
Equine-facilitated wellness (EFW) and Equine assisted Learning (EAL) are broad terms used to describe therapeutic, educational and personal growth activities that bring horses and people together. Terms which are currently used under EFW include equine facilitated counselling, equine assisted learning and equine assisted personal growth. The goals of EFW and EAL include therapeutic healing, increased self-awareness and personal growth.
In 2019, STaRS began offering Equine Facilitated Wellness and Equine Assisted Learning programs. Our programs provide participants from a range of backgrounds and challenges to experience a nonjudgmental relationship with horses that is built on mutual respect, trust, and safety. EFW/EAL services are increasingly in demand, particularly since the onset of the COVID pandemic, and can provide emotional resilience and developmental growth to such disparate participants as nurses suffering from burnout to children and youth who have experienced trauma.
Therapists are just beginning to understand more about the connection between horses and people. Studies now show that EFW can develop increased trust, reduce anxiety, mitigate feelings of depression and isolation and increase self-esteem, self-acceptance, and social skills. EFW provides increased resilience to children and adults who have substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD and stress, as well as those with physical and cognitive disorders. A recent comprehensive review of the research examining the impact of EFW on at-risk indigenous youth in Canada, New Zealand, the U.S. and Australia concluded that it “was found to be an effective intervention overall for many at-risk groups of youth to build confidence, self-esteem, social skills, communication, respect, compassion, and patience, as well as to improve emotional regulation, reduce anger, and increase self-awareness of feelings. Participants were able to learn about building trusting relationships and setting and respecting boundaries (Haig & Skinner, 2022).
Horses have a powerful role in reducing stress and healing, and our qualified instructors can support participants with the development of skills to better manage the challenges that children and youth experience.
Session Costs:
Individual 60 minutes session $155.00 (tax included).
* No horse or riding experience required.
Horses as co-facilitators
- They are always authentic and they communicate feeling with non-verbal behaviour. Noticing horse behaviour can help us to become more connected with our own bodily reactions and feelings.
- Horses can help communication when finding words is too hard.
- They move and keep us moving which allows tension and stress to move through and out of our bodies.
- Horses are large, powerful animals. They can help us feel empowered by helping us overcome our fears.
- Horses are also very attuned to their environment in the here and now. Being present with them can help us ground, build safety and create connection.
- Finally, horses can invite touch and physical connection which can provide comfort, affection and even love.
“Horses are amazing present authentic beings!”
All equine sessions utilize experiential and interactive learning assisted by horses in a safe environment. The sessions may include activities such as observing equines from across a fence; discussing herd behaviour or equine psychology, grooming, simple leading exercises, liberty (equal ratio of horses to people), mounted horseback riding as well as present moment and body awareness activities.