Horses first
Horses are amazing facilitators in the world of human development. They are intelligent, generous and sensitive – and respond to both positive and negative changes in their handler’s behaviour and emotions – offering constant and immediate feedback to your actions and emotions.
Identify emotions
In the wild, horses are prey animals, and depend for survival on their herd. They have a highly developed ability to sense changes in other herd members – to identify new emotions such as excitement or suspicion.
They use this ability when they work with people and can help us develop our own emotional intelligence.
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Identify inconsistent behaviour
Horses see through even the slightest inconsistency between emotions and intentions. Instead, they identify and mirror our true emotions, intentions and behaviours. So they can teach us to recognise when we are not being authentic – and reveal emotions buried in our subconscious.
They have highly complex social structures in their herds. They respond quickly and honestly when forming and sustaining relationships and can teach us how to set healthy boundaries in our own.
Live in the moment
Horses can also help us to live more in the present moment. They stay in touch with their bodies, their environment and each other’s feelings from moment to moment. Interacting with them – even just being in their presence – enables us do the same. This helps us to change negative patterns of behaviour, based on habits and to manage change in our lives easily.
Horses are patient, gentle and forgiving. They do not judge, they simply reflect back. They are the only domestic animals who behave in this way. They are wonderful to work with and if you have no experience of horses you will be astonished at the extent of the interaction and learning you can achieve.
What exactly is Equine Facilitated Learning?
Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) is simply a form of personal development based on experiential learning with horses as your guides. It focuses on communication and relationship skills, mind-body awareness, emotional intelligence, confidence and authentic leadership.
With EFL, horses teach you how to learn from your emotions and physical sensations and use this knowledge to connect with who you really are, at a deep level.
EFL provides an opportunity to explore and develop your self-awareness in a safe, quiet and natural environment with horses as your guides.
It will help you to enhance your communication skills and deepen your relationships, bringing balance into your whole life – your mind, body, feelings and spirit.
EFL can help you learn to balance your ‘head and your heart’, find your true confidence, live in the moment and enjoy a life of fulfillment.
EFL requires no previous experience with horses and involves simply being in their presence and working on the ground with the horse in a safe setting with an experienced facilitator. It’s entirely up to you whether you want to go on to work with horses on horseback.
What is the Epona ApproachTM?
Epona Equestrian Services is based in Arizona and specialises in the fields of Equine Facilitated Learning and Equine Faciliated Psychotherapy. It provides workshops and training for EFL facilitators all over the world.
The Epona organisation has become internationally known through founder Linda Kohanov’s classic book The Tao of Equus.
The Epona ApproachTM is based on Linda’s work and teachings and incorporates the principles of EFL and similar systems. It is based on learning from horses, through direct interaction with them, to achieve physical, emotional and spiritual balance in our lives.
Linda’s books are now approved University texts.
Please do visit the Epona website for more detailed info about the Epona ApproachTM and especially if you are interested in training as a facilitator.
The qualifying requirements and process to become a facilitator are set out Here >>>
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To Find Out More and To Book Workshops Please Contact Rosie
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“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” Ralph Waldo Emerson
