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Equine Facilitated Learning
 
Setting Goals - The Initial Evaluation
Before being placed into the program, all participants will undergo an evaluation.  This ensures the program is a good fit for everyone.  During the evaluation, the participant is assessed for cognitive skills, reaction and interaction with the
horse(s), and social and emotional strengths and deficits.   This information is used by the treatment team to determine appropriate long and short term goals for the rider.  A frequency and duration is set (typically 60 min., 1x/week) and a session time is scheduled
 
Working Toward Our Goals - A Typical Session
Although sessions will vary widely depending on the goals of the client(s), a typical session will move through the following steps:
 
Opening:  Each participant reviews their experiences from the previous session (How did it affect your week?, What are you focused on now?).  All participants are invited to share what they would like to get out of that day's session.  The safety agreement is reviewed at the beginning of each session.  For clients with difficulties in communication, adjustments are made.
 
Grooming the Horse:  Although the horses are not often ridden in Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) sessions, grooming is an important part of each lesson.  We use the activity of grooming to engage the client and facilitate developing a relationship with "their" horse.  The horse getting clean is simply a by-product of the activity.  It is an important part to developing a trusting relationship for both horse and client.  Depending on the activity, grooming may be done at the beginning or end of the session.
 
Activity:  The activities done in EFL are designed to facilitate interactions between horse and human.  It is through these interactions that clients learn about skills such as communication, trust, problem-solving and teamwork.  It is our belief that learning can only take place when a participant feels they are safe.  This is the most basic sense of survival.  All activities have been designed with the safety of all participants in mind, including the equine.  At any time a client or other participant feels they are approaching an unsafe moment, activity or feeling, they are able to call a "time out".  This is reviewed at the beginning of each session.
 
Closing:  Clients and participants share their thoughts on the activity.  They are invited to share with the group one thing they learned about themselves/their environment and how they can/will apply it to their life outside of the stables in the upcoming week.  For clients with difficulties in communication, adjustments are made.
 
After Care: In order to develop responsibility, empathy and awareness, riders are required to take care of their horse after each session.  This may include hosing them off after a hot day, allowing them to nibble on grass, or simply giving them reassuring strokes along their neck.  We take a moment to tell our horse "Thank You!" before returning them to their stall.  Depending on the activity, this may be done before, after or during "Closing".
 
Continuing Improvement - On-going Sessions and Re-evaluations
At any point a member of the treatment team feels the need to re-address goals or re-evaluate the client, this will be arranged.  Otherwise re-evaluations are done every six (6) months.  These re-evaluations are done during a separate session, outside of group work, however your regular session rate (group or individual) will apply.   This gives everyone an opportunity to see where we're out, where we need to go and how we can get there.  It is also a time for the the client to really reflect on the changes and progress they've made and gives them something to be quite proud of.