This week, our 9-12 students had their second Equine Assisted Learning experience (EAL) for the year.
The EAL program at FMS is part of our 9-12 leadership and personal development program. The program is coordinated by 9-12 class assistant Meghan, whose business, Growth Edges, specialises in equine therapy and personal development for schools, groups and individuals.
The program provides invaluable skills in leadership and personal growth for our 9-12 students, and particularly our 2024 graduates, as they prepare for the world beyond FMS.
What is the equine program all about?
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is a learner-based educational experience with horses.
The program is about developing leadership and teamwork skills to support the next generation. During sessions, we work with one solid objective at a time. We continue to build on these skills from session to session to create a curriculum that covers key learning objectives across a range of programs.
The overarching theme of the 9-12 EAL program is leadership, whereby students engage in activities that promote learning about self and others, as well as specific leadership skills and values. It celebrates a holistic approach to learning and growing. It is an effective approach to human development that encourages individual and team growth. Participants engage in objectively driven exercises and find themselves learning valuable life skills in a fun and exciting atmosphere while working with horses. Equine Assisted Learning has proven to be effective, powerful, positive, educational, and creative.
Why we use the EAL program at FMS
Dr Maria Montessori said “What the hand does, the mind remembers”. Biophilia suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and affiliate with other forms of life. Dr Maria Montessori strongly advocated for the important role that nature plays in the development and fulfilment of a child. By taking learning outside the classroom and incorporating animals into education, we intentionally engage the child in nature-based learning as part of Dr Montessori’s vision.
What kind of activities do the children get involved in?
Students are grouped and encouraged to participate in exercises developed to promote self-esteem and self- confidence through validated, hands-on experiences. In addition to the extensive and wide-reaching work of Dr Maria Montessori, current research has found this experiential form of learning to be most effective as the person learning will retain the newly acquired skill.
How does EAL foster leadership skills for our 9-12s?
Equine Assisted Learning enables critical thinking skills, reflective skills, creativity, adaptation, effective communication. Horses are tough and steadfast dance partners. Horses consistently react to stimulus provided by participants. Some of the joys associated with working around horses are – they don’t judge but they constantly
assess. Their feedback is honest and instant. Learning to listen to what horses have to say is powerful and can sometimes spur the answer to individual change. By including horses in specially designed educational exercises, equine-assisted facilitators have greatly multiplied the participant’s rate of success to self-discovery.
What skills does EAL provide to prepare students beyond FMS?
Horses respond and react from the stimulus of the people they are working with and address the problem immediately. Horses don’t over think a participant’s motive but horses do challenge their behaviour and leadership. Some of the skills children develop through these interactions include:
- Confidence
- Increased empathy for others.
- Increased awareness of self and others.
- Able to articulate needs and wants with more clarity.
- Increased ability to self-reflect and process their learning.
- Demonstrating persistence and adaptability in facing challenges.
- Huge increase in courage
- Making difficult decisions
- Strengthened collaboration and teamwork
Here are a few words from students who participated in EAL this week:
‘I learnt about teamwork and how we needed to work together to do things’. – Harlem
‘We need to understand the boundaries and body language of the horses so we can work with them.’ – Felix
‘We learnt to be respectful.’ – Isaac
‘We learnt how to be responsible for other things.’ – Reuel
You can learn more about EAL programs with Growth Edges here.
