Lesson overview

We're often asked, “What is the goal of your program? What are you trying to achieve?” These are excellent questions. Although our program does include mounted work, we do not focus on the elements included in traditional riding lessons. Instead, our goal is to to help students improve their life skills in partnership with the horse. A typical lesson includes:

1. Welcome:  When groups arrive, we take a few minutes to ask the students about their week and assess what they may bring into the lesson for the day. This time can help facilitators know how best to utilize movement or teach regulation techniques before engaging in an activity with the horses.
2. Warm-up:  As there are various learning styles, we strive to provide instruction for every learner. We utilize various activities at the start of groups to help meet all learning methods and get the brain ready to glean as much as possible from the equine-assisted activity later in the lesson.
3. Movement:  Research shows movement increases learning and the body's ability to focus. We utilize different movement types, including stretching, yoga, balance exercises, and mounted activities, to facilitate the learning and retention of program content. 
4. Equine-assisted activity:  The primary objective of equine-assisted activities is to make the connection between the activity with the horses and real-life situations. For instance, a student may notice a horse appearing anxious when another student is loud or moving erratically. The instructor can then make a bridge by asking, “Have you ever noticed anyone being disruptive in your classroom? How did the other students react to their behavior?” to help the student understand how negative behavior can impact others.
5. Wrap-up:  At the end of group sessions, instructors will explain the following week's lesson, answer questions, and occasionally assign a lesson to complete at home.