Horses Help Kids to Keep Cool & Calm

By Shanelle Schick

Cool Calm Equine Assisted Learning is providing an opportunity for locals to get up close and personal working with horses and dogs as a form of therapy.

Megan Size spent 12 months study Equine Assisted Learning after her daughter’s occupational therapist noted a significant change in her behaviour after working with animals This has led Meg to creating Cool Calm Equine Assisted Learning

Megan with one of the horses who assist with equine assisted learning sessions

What is Equine Assisted Learning?

"A unique approach to experiential learning, where clients are offered safe experiences with horses for the purpose of learning social-emotional skills, personal development, and professional development skills (eg leadership and team building) EAL is a fast-growing modality across Australia and the globe. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients benefit greatly from EAL services as do children, adolescents and adults. "

Located on 25 acres at Cawarral, the property has plenty of space for clients to come and work with the horses, giving them an opportunity to be involved in experiential learning Animals reflect feelings back to us and if you are feeling cranky and unhappy, the animal will reflect this back to you and won’t engage with you

Clients working with Meg in 1 hour sessions can expect to be greeted upon arrival with a check in of how things have been going since they last met, providing them with an opportunity to chat and reflect on what has been. Sessions are client-led offering choice points to create confidences. Open-ended questions are asked and the structure of a session develops from there. Clients are then able to choose the flow of the session from leading, to grooming and plaiting, to painting the horses or just enjoying the quiet ambience of the farm - there are plenty of options available, all developing important skills such as empathy for self and others, self care and fine motor skills

Meg reports that many of her clients don't want to leave at the end of their session as they enjoy them so much.

With the school holidays coming up, there is an opportunity for kids to experience working with Meg, her horses and dogs out on the farm. The idea is to give kids a chance to spend some time outdoors in nature with the animals enjoying some screen free time and fresh air Details of the school holiday program can be found on the adjacent flyer and bookings can be made by emailing coolandcalmeal@outlookcom