2377 East Wellington Rd     Nanaimo, BC     Canada V9R 6V7     Program information     info@generationfarms.ca     Correspondence to:     Deborah Marshall     203 1801 Bowen Road     Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1     Office phone number     250-754-7703     Horses: How Can They Help? Linda Kohanov gives a wonderful explanation of how it is that horses help create positive and healing change in people. "Why Horses?  Horses are consummate facilitators of human development.  The size of such an animal alone inspires a heightened state of awareness.  These intelligent, sensitive creatures respond to both positive and negative changes in the handler's behavior, offering people constant feedback and timely rewards or consequences for their actions.  Horses are social creatures that readily and honestly respond to the challenges inherent in forming and sustaining relationships.  As animals that are preyed upon in nature, they have also retained a highly developed ability to sense changes in the stance and arousal level of other herd members, an ability they easily transfer to interactions with human beings. Horses see through the slightest incongruities of emotions and intention, yet they are exceedingly patient and forgiving.  Through a series of specially designed activities, participants deepen awareness of personal issues, core feelings and areas of bodily tension that inhibit their ability to reach their true potential.  A tremendous boost in self-esteem and confidence comes from learning how to establish boundaries and direct a thousand pound creature through mental focus, creative visualization and clarity of intent.  These skills, which can be difficult to teach in a conventional classroom or counselling session, have far ranging applications linked to increased success in personal relationships, career and parenting." Work with the horses is most often done un-mounted.  Mounted exercises are done only for specific purpose such as dealing with riding fear, or to develop more body connection.  Most work is done with one or more horses loose in the round pen.  Leading, grooming and working across the fence from the horse are all possibilities.  The goal is personal growth or therapy, not horsemanship, although you may learn a whole new way to view a horse! Not only the humans are healed in this interspecies collaboration.  At Generation Farms, we constantly monitor the response of the horse to both the riding and therapy, and modify as needed for their wellbeing.  We have observed that our horses enjoy and benefit from their involvement in Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy and Equine Experiential Learning. Home || About Us || Programs || Schedule & Events Copyright © 2005 Generation Farms - All rights reserved - Version 1.0 Minimum screen resolution of 800x600 and browsers 4.0 and above are required